Samantha is a female given name of American origin. It was popularized in the late 19th century by the novel "Samantha at Saratoga" written by Marie Belloc Lowndes. The name Samantha means "listener to God" and is derived from the Hebrew language.
In the Bible, Samantha is mentioned as a woman who was a prophetess. She was known for her ability to hear and interpret the word of God. This is where the name's meaning originates from. Despite its biblical origins, Samantha has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its modern sound and association with the character Samantha Stephens from the television show "Bewitched."
The name Samantha has been used by several notable figures throughout history, including Samantha Power, a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and Samantha Ronson, a British-American DJ. Despite its popularity, Samantha remains a strong and unique name that carries a deep spiritual meaning.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Samantha in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of the name.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of births with the name Samantha remained relatively low, ranging from just a few to around 20 per year. However, beginning in the mid-1950s, there was a notable rise in its popularity. In 1958, there were 109 births, and by 1964, this number had jumped to 415.
The peak of Samantha's popularity occurred between 1985 and 1989, during which time it was one of the most popular names for newborn girls. In 1986 alone, there were 14,092 births with the name Samantha. This high level of popularity continued into the early to mid-1990s, with over 20,000 births per year from 1987 to 1995.
However, since around 2000, there has been a steady decline in the number of newborn girls named Samantha. By 2023, the total number of births with this name had fallen to 2,363, marking a significant decrease from its peak popularity several decades ago. Nevertheless, even today, Samantha remains a popular and recognizable name in the United States.