Samara

Meaning of Samara

Samara drifts onto the tongue like a maple seed twirling on a lazy breeze—suh-MAHR-uh—and her story is just as airborne. Some trace her roots to the banks of Russia’s mighty Volga, where the city of Samara gleams like a silver samovar at dawn; others hear echoes of the ancient Hebrew “shamar,” meaning “to guard,” or the Arabic “samar,” a moonlit chat that stretches into laughter-soaked madrugada. Either way, she carries both river strength and night-garden mystery, equal parts guardian and storyteller. In Latin America, abuelas smile at the name, imagining a niña whose ideas flutter everywhere, planting little hopes like winged seeds in every corner. Pop-culture has given her faces—from the bright Australian actress Samara Weaving to the haunting film character in “The Ring”—yet parents keep flocking to her, nudging her into the U.S. Top 300 year after year. Samara feels at once grounded and free-spirited, a perfect pick for a daughter you expect to stand tall while still chasing every gust of adventure.

Pronunciation

Russian

• Pronunced as suh-MAH-ruh (/sʌˈmarʌ/)

English

• Pronunced as suh-MAHR-uh (/səˈmɑrə/)

• Samira
• Samia
• Samaya
• Samantha
• Samina
• Samuela
• Samiya