Samara

Samara - A very unique female name

Samara appeared on the charts for the first time in 1955 on position #2289. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Samara and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Samara? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Samara. The baby girl name Samara was given to 931 baby girls in 2025, ranking #320 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,400 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Samara peaked in popularity 8 years ago in 2018 on position 259.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Samara, 1-5?

Samara is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Samara is currently topping the baby name charts in Nevada at position #175 - and is the least popular in Michigan at position #1,041.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Samara is where you live.

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Samara origin and meaning

Multiple possible origins — disputed

Uncertain — claimed from Hebrew 'guarded by God,' Arabic samar, 'evening conversation,' and the place Samaria; no single source is established for the modern name

Samara is used across several cultures with different roots: a Hebrew reading, an Arabic word for evening talk, a Russian city and the biblical region Samaria all stand behind it, and no one derivation covers modern American use. It has been in the data since 1955 and peaked in 2018. It has risen slightly in rank since 2020.

Origin uncertain

Samara is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Samara, pop culture references for the name Samara and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Samara

We've found the following names that sound similar to Samara, sorted by popularity.

Summer / Samira / Sommer / Samaria / Samirah / Samarah / Samaira / Somer / Samari / Shamira /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Samara

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Samara a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Samara?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

suh-MAR-uh · /səˈmɑːrə/
Most often suh-MAR-uh; suh-MAIR-uh is also common.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Samarah — Spelling with final h

Nicknames: SamMara

Famous bearers

• Samara Weaving — Australian actress (b. 1992) Contemporary
• Samara Morgan — Antagonist of the horror film The Ring (Fictional, 2002) Fictional

Style

InternationalPlace name

Why parents choose it

Samara has a flowing, cross-cultural sound, but parents should know the horror-film character is a strong association for many.

Worth knowing

• The Ring's Samara is a genuinely unsettling namesake that comes up often.
• Meaning claims for Samara contradict each other because the name has several independent sources.