Samantha
English
Etymology
It was recorded in the 17th century in England.[1]
Most probably a feminine form of Samuel, possibly influenced by Anthea. Other suggestions include ܫܡܥܢܬܐ (šemʿanta, “listener”, noun), from ܫܡܥ.
In India, Samantha can be interpreted as a variant spelling of Samanta, from Sanskrit समन्त (samanta, “universal, adjacent”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /səˈmænθə/
- (æ-tensing) IPA(key): [səˈmɛənθə]
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Proper noun
Samantha
- A female given name from Hebrew.
- 1876, Phebe Ann Hanaford, Women of the Century, page 525:
- These country girls, as they were called, had queer names, which added to the singularity of their appearance. Samantha, Triphena, Plumy, Leafy, Ruhamah, Lovey, and Florilla were among them.
- 1888, Marietta Holley, Josiah Allen's Wife as a P.A. and P.I.: Samantha at the Centennial, page 577:
- "Its name is Samantha Jo, after Josiah and me. - - - If it had been a boy, we was layin' out to call it Josiah Sam, - Sam for Samantha."
- 1967, Howard Fast, Samantha, I Books, published 2004, →ISBN, page 42:
- "Middle of the depression - who's going to give a kid a nutty name like Samantha? Today's another matter, but around then, from what I hear, people weren't thinking about these stylish names."
- 1985, Bobbie Ann Mason, In Country, Harper&Row, →ISBN, pages 182, 183:
- But here's my favorite name: Samuel. It's from the Bible. If it's a girl, name it Samantha. That sounds like something in a prayer, doesn't it? I think it's a name in the Chronicles. I've been reading the Bible every night." - - -
She found the Book of Chronicles and scanned it. - - - There was no Samantha in either the first or the second book of the Chronicles.
Usage notes
- Popular in the English-speaking world from the 1970s to the 2000s.
Translations
female given name
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Anagrams
- manastha
German
Tagalog
Etymology
Borrowed from English, of uncertain origin.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /saˈmanta/, [sɐˈman.tɐ]
- Hyphenation: Sa‧man‧tha
Proper noun
Samantha (Baybayin spelling ᜐᜋᜈ᜔ᜆ)
- a female given name from English, popular in the Philippines since the 1990s or 2000s
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