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Samantha

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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It was recorded in the 17th century in England.[1]

Most probably a feminine form of Samuel, possibly influenced by Anthea. Other suggestions include Aramaic 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

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Proper noun

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Samantha

  1. 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

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  • Popular in the English-speaking world from the 1970s to the 2000s.
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Translations

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References

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Anagrams

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German

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English Samantha in the 1960s.

Proper noun

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Samantha

  1. a female given name from English

Tagalog

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English, of uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Samantha (Baybayin spelling ᜐᜋᜈ᜔ᜆ)

  1. a female given name from English, popular in the Philippines since the 1990s or 2000s