Samantha is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #2549 in 1999 with 35 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2004 with 39 births ranking #2733. In 1999, approximately 1 in every 54,860 boys born was named Samantha. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Samantha is a very familiar modern classic, but its exact origin is not fully settled. It is usually treated as a later feminine formation rather than an ancient traditional name with one agreed meaning.
The name became firmly established in English-speaking use through literature and nineteenth-century naming culture, then remained popular for many decades. Its enduring appeal comes from familiarity and softness rather than a simple transparent etymology.