Samantha

Samantha is an English feminine name that arose in the American South during the 18th century, though its precise etymology remains uncertain. The most widely accepted theory connects it to Samuel, a Hebrew name meaning asked of God or heard by God, with the Greek or Aramaic feminine suffix -antha added by analogy with names such as Anthea or Anthia. Some scholars have suggested it was formed simply to provide a feminine counterpart to Samuel, and it gained broad popular use across the English-speaking world from the 19th century onward, later boosted by cultural exposure through film and television. Related forms include Samanta and the shortened variants Sam and Sammi.