How to say it
sa · MA · ra
səˈmɑːr.ə
Feminine
Samara
Guardian, or winged seed
What it means
Linked to a Hebrew root for 'watchful, guardian,' and also the botanical samara, the winged seed of maples and elms.
Samara braids a few threads. It connects to a Hebrew root meaning 'guardian' or 'watchful,' echoes the ancient city of Samarra and the biblical region of Samaria, and shares its spelling with the samara, the little winged seed that helicopters down from maples and elms. That mix of meanings gives it both gravity and a nature note. The horror film The Ring lends a small eerie footnote. Sam and Mara are the shorts.
How to spell Samara
The standard spelling is Samara. Common variants include Samira, Samarah, Sahmara, but Samara is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #256 in 2018, currently #320 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 and Mara both fall out of it.
- Worth knowing
Shares its name with the unsettling Samara of The Ring, a minor pop-culture association.
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.
- Samara the winged seed of maples and elms, the name's nature sense
Spelling variants
- Samira
- Samarah
- Sahmara
Names with the same feeling
See Samara from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Samara mean?
- Linked to a Hebrew root for 'watchful, guardian,' and also the botanical samara, the winged seed of maples and elms.
- What does Samara mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Samara means "Guardian, or winged seed." Samara braids a few threads. It connects to a Hebrew root meaning 'guardian' or 'watchful,' echoes the ancient city of Samarra and the biblical region of Samaria, and shares its spelling with the samara, the little winged seed that helicopters down from maples and elms. That mix of meanings gives it both gravity and a nature note. The horror film The Ring lends a small eerie footnote. Sam and Mara are the shorts.
- How do you pronounce Samara?
- Samara is pronounced səˈmɑːr.ə. Say it as sa-MA-ra, with the stress on the "ma" syllable.
- How do you spell Samara?
- The standard spelling is Samara. Common spelling variants include Samira, Samarah, Sahmara.
- Is Samara a boy or girl name?
- Samara is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Samara?
- Samara ranked #320 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.