How to say it
sa · MAN · tha
səˈmæn.θə
Feminine
Samantha
Heard by God
What it means
Possibly a feminine of Samuel (Hebrew 'heard by God'), though the etymology is contested, some scholars trace it to a 17th-century English coinage. Bewitched's Samantha Stephens (1964-1972) defined the name for a generation.
Samantha's etymology is contested. The most common reading is as a feminine form of Samuel (Hebrew Shemuʾel, 'heard by God' or 'name of God') with the feminine ending -antha (echoing the Greek anthos, 'flower'). An alternate reading traces the name to an unrelated 17th-century English coinage. It was particularly popular in the American South. The witch sitcom Bewitched (Elizabeth Montgomery's Samantha Stephens, 1964-1972) gave the name decisive English-language anchor. Sex and the City's Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall, 1998-2004) gave it a second life. It peaked in the US in 1990 and is sliding gently. Sam is the universal short.
How to spell Samantha
The standard spelling is Samantha. Common variants include Samanta, but Samantha is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #3 in 1998, currently #151 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Sam is the universal short and a standalone name; Sammy is the childhood form.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Samantha Stephens Elizabeth Montgomery's nose-twitching witch in Bewitched, 1964-1972
- Samantha Jones Kim Cattrall's character in Sex and the City
Spelling variants
- Samanta
Names with the same feeling
See Samantha from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Samantha mean?
- Possibly a feminine of Samuel (Hebrew 'heard by God'), though the etymology is contested, some scholars trace it to a 17th-century English coinage. Bewitched's Samantha Stephens (1964-1972) defined the name for a generation.
- What does Samantha mean in English?
- In English, Samantha means "Heard by God." Samantha's etymology is contested. The most common reading is as a feminine form of Samuel (Hebrew Shemuʾel, 'heard by God' or 'name of God') with the feminine ending -antha (echoing the Greek anthos, 'flower'). An alternate reading traces the name to an unrelated 17th-century English coinage. It was particularly popular in the American South. The witch sitcom Bewitched (Elizabeth Montgomery's Samantha Stephens, 1964-1972) gave the name decisive English-language anchor. Sex and the City's Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall, 1998-2004) gave it a second life. It peaked in the US in 1990 and is sliding gently. Sam is the universal short.
- How do you pronounce Samantha?
- Samantha is pronounced səˈmæn.θə. Say it as sa-MAN-tha, with the stress on the "man" syllable.
- How do you spell Samantha?
- The standard spelling is Samantha. Common spelling variants include Samanta.
- Is Samantha a boy or girl name?
- Samantha is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Samantha?
- Samantha ranked #151 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.