Samantha is a beautiful name with uncertain origins, possibly a feminine form of Samuel influenced by Greek anthos meaning flower. It gained significant popularity in the 17th century in England and saw a major resurgence in the United States in the mid-20th century, especially after the TV show Bewitched featured a character named Samantha Stephens. It was a top 10 name for girls in the US for many years and remains widely used today, particularly in English-speaking countries. Famous people named Samantha include Samantha Power, an American diplomat, and Samantha Morton, an English actress.