Samantha: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced suh-MAN-thuh · 3 syllables
Samantha means “'God has set' or 'God has placed'; asked/borrowed from God”, from Hebrew.
It was recorded in the 17th century in England. Most probably a feminine form of Samuel, possibly influenced by Anthea. Other suggestions include Aramaic (sem anta, “listener”, noun), from. In India, Samantha can be interpreted as a variant spelling of Samanta, from Sanskrit (samanta, “universal, adjacent”).
- Meaning
- 'God has set' or 'God has placed'; asked/borrowed from God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- suh-MAN-thuh
- US rank (2025)
- #151
- US babies a year
- about 2,356 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1990
- Nicknames
- Sam, Sammie
How popular is Samantha?
Samantha was the #151 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,973 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 63% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #151 |
| England & Wales | #604 |
| Scotland | #341 |
| Ireland | #846 |
| Norway | #490 |
| Canada | #371 |
| Australia | #337 |
How old are people named Samantha?
Half of US adults named Samantha are older than 33; most are between 20 and 50. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Samantha
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Samantha have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Samantha
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
- Tabitha
- Abigail
- Daniella
- Jessica
- Aisha
- Leigha
- Sasha
- Alisha
- Anisha
- Jenna
- Miranda
- Ashley
- Anais
- Matthew
- Jesse
- Jonathan
On these lists
Questions about Samantha
What does the name Samantha mean?
Samantha means “'God has set' or 'God has placed'; asked/borrowed from God”. It comes from Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Samantha?
Samantha is pronounced suh-MAN-thuh.
How popular is the name Samantha?
Samantha was the #151 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,973 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 63% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
How old are people named Samantha?
Half of US adults named Samantha are older than 33. Most are between 20 and 50.