Samantha is of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word 'samuel', which means "name of God" or "heard". It is a unisex name, but has been more commonly used for females since the 1980s. The name Samantha gained popularity in the English-speaking world after it was used in the 1963 film "The Nutty Professor", starring Jerry Lewis as Professor Julius Kelp/Samantha Siddall. The name also appeared in the popular TV series "Bewitched" in the character Samantha Stephens, played by Elizabeth Montgomery from 1964 to 1972. Today, Samantha is a well-established name and continues to be popular worldwide.
The name Samantha experienced significant popularity between the late 1980s and early 1990s, peaking with 120 births in 1989. However, its usage has since declined, with fewer than 20 births per year recorded from 2007 onwards, indicating a decrease in the name's popularity over time.