Samantha is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #5030 in 2006 with 18 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2004 with 39 births ranking #2733. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 48.6%. In 2006, approximately 1 in every 114,173 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.