Baby Name of the Day Samara: Ancient and Romantic

The baby name Samara is front and center thanks to Hollywood actress, but it’s been quietly waiting for a close-up since the 9th century BC.

Thanks to Emilee for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME SAMARA MEAN?

Pinning down the meaning of the name Samara means going way back.

Let’s start with four ancient place names from the map:

• In modern-day Russia, the Volga and Samara rivers meet in a region inhabited since at least the 5th century BC. Archeologists continue to learn more about the Samara culture that flourished in the area for millennia. A river, city, and administrative region still bear the name, which likely means “summer water.”
• Around the same time, the Samarra culture flourished in northern Mesopotamia. It’s located in modern-day Iraq. Both the archeological site, as well as a modern city, share the name today. 
• During the 9th century BC, the city of Samaria stood in the ancient kingdom of Israel. The name referred to both a city and the surrounding area. It’s the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Shomrom. The meaning is given as watch-tower, watchman, or even guardian. The modern city on the same site is known as Sebastia. 
• France’s Somme River was called the Samara in Latin. In this case, it’s likely connected to a Celtic word meaning quiet or tranquil. The nearby French city of Amiens was known as Samarobriva, with briva referring to a bridge. The Somme is best known for the World War I battle that took place not far from its banks.

Despite all this ancient map-reading, it’s not clearly that any of these led to any baby girl names – then or now. 

OTHER ORIGINS

So where does the name Samara come from? 

• Names like the masculine Samir and feminine Samira are Arabic and meaning “evening talk.”
• There’s an Arabic word meaning “benefit” that might explain some of the name’s use.
• In Greek, samaras refers to a saddle-maker, and samara would be the feminine form. 
• It might come from a Latin word, literally “the seed of the elm.” It refers to the winged seeds, sometimes called whirligigs, helicopters, or spinning jennys. One of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s later projects was a family home for a professor at Indiana’s Purdue University. It’s named for those seeds. This makes Samara a subtle nature name.

Beyond these two possibilities, Samara might’ve evolved from similar sounding names: Samantha, Tamara, and Mara, to list just a few. 

Worth noting: Samantha ranked in the US Top Ten the year Samara first debuted in the Top 1000. 

Still, there’s no question why this name soared in use – though the story is a little dark.

THE RING

Way back in the year 1949, the baby name Samara debuted in the US popularity data. Five girls received the name. 

Then in 1997, Samara entered the US Top 1000. 

But it surged in popularity between 2002 and 2003, rising from #929 to #456 in just a single year.

What explains the dramatic increase?

A wildly successful horror movie: The Ring. 

It’s based on a 1998 Japanese movie, from a 1991 novel, Ringu. In the original, a little girl named Sadako haunts a cursed videotape. Anyone who watches it meets a tragic death.

When the movie was remade in the US in 2002, Sadako became Samara.

SAMARA and SAMARRA

Why? Here’s a guess: in 1925, W. Somerset Maugham penned a short story titled based on a Mesopotamian folk tale. A man tries to outrun death, only to meet the Grim Reaper himself in the city of Samarra.

In 1934, American novelist John O’Hara published Appointment in Samarra, based on the legend. O’Hara’s protagonist faced a seemingly unstoppable fate. 

The novel’s title filtered into use as a euphemism for death.  

A television adaptation of O’Hara’s work aired in 1953; it’s possible – maybe even likely – the phrase would’ve been used in other settings. 

After all, a 2010 episode of Supernatural used the title “Appointment in Samarra.” Sherlock used the story in 2017’s “The Six Thatchers.”

Sequels to The Ring gave us more of Samara’s story in 2005 and 2017. 

It’s a haunting, dark, and poetic possibility. 

SAMARA WEAVING

None of this neatly explains how Australian actress Samara Weaving came by the name.

Born in 1992 in Adelaide, her father was an English filmmaker and professor. Her mother was from Malta, and worked as an art therapist. Samara’s uncle, Hugo Weaving, is a successful actor, best known for his work in The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings. 

Appropriately enough, Weaving has made her name as a scream queen in movies like Ready or Not and The Babysitter. 

The actress continues to make her mark, and her given name has increased in use accordingly. 

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME SAMARA?

The baby name Samara peaked at #256 in 2018, and stands at #320 as of 2025.

With names like Clara, Sarah, Yara, and Zara all increasing in use, another -ara ender doesn’t seem so strange. It fits with newcomers like Alara and Elara, too. 

Across gender lines, masculine name Samir comes in at #643. 

RISING FAVORITE

There’s a hint of darkness about the name. Credit to Weaving’s movie roles, as well as the menacing figure in The Ring. That’s not necessarily a problem. There’s a tiny bit of Gothic charm about plenty of current favorites. Evangeline, Annabel, Lydia, Raven – lots of popular choices are at least a little bit on the spooky side. 

Of course, lots of other origins and meanings compete for this ancient name so there’s no need to think about Samara as a future scream queen. The ties to nature are appealing, and the sound is gorgeous, too. 

If you’re looking for something romantic, storied, and a little bit different, Samara could be the perfect name for your family. 

What do you think of the baby name Samara? 

This post was first published on September 30, 2015, this post was revised on August 12, 2026.