[1] Speculation (without evidence) has suggested an origin from the masculine given name Samuel[2] and anthos, the Greek word for "flower".

[2] "Samantha" remained a rare name until the 1873 publication of the first novel in a series by Marietta Holley, featuring the adventures of a woman named "Samantha," wife of Josiah Allen.

Those rankings followed the release of the 1956 film High Society, in which Grace Kelly played a character with the middle name Samantha.

The movie introduced a song titled "I Love You, Samantha" by the famed composer Cole Porter.

[7] The name has also been well-used in other English-speaking countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as well as in Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain.