Find out how popular the first name Samara has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Samara by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Samara is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Samara being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,190 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Samara.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Samara in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Samara

The name Samara has its origins in the Sanskrit language and is derived from the word "samara," which means "war" or "battle." It is believed to have emerged as a personal name in ancient India during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.

In Hindu mythology, Samara is mentioned as one of the names of the god Shiva, who is often depicted as the Destroyer or the Transformer. The name is associated with strength, courage, and the ability to overcome challenges.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Samara can be found in the epic Sanskrit poem Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In the poem, Samara is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought in the great battle of Kurukshetra.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Samara. One of the most famous was Samara Maharaja, a powerful ruler of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, who reigned from around 305 BCE to 283 BCE.

In the 7th century CE, Samara Gupta was a celebrated king of the Gupta Empire, known for his military conquests and patronage of the arts and literature.

Another notable figure was Samara Devi, a queen of the Chola Empire in southern India, who ruled in the 11th century CE and was renowned for her political acumen and support of cultural traditions.

During the medieval period, Samara Khan was a prominent military leader and governor in the Delhi Sultanate, who played a significant role in the expansion of the empire in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, Samara Bai was a revered female warrior and military leader from the Maratha Empire, who fought against the Mughal forces and gained recognition for her bravery and leadership skills.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Samara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Samara, please contact us.

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