Samantha sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Savannah, Amanda, and Tamara are the closest matches by sound. Most share Samantha's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"told by God"
"alive, lively"
"rock or comely"
"one who will rise again"
"the end, cliff's edge"
"ewe, female sheep"
"lily flower, purity"
"famous type"
"lioness of God"
"noble, nobility"
"of the Julian family"
"play, amusement"
"magnolia flower"
"princess, noblewoman"
"the paisley pattern, ornate beauty"
"keeper of the park or game"
"water"
"noble, of noble kind"
"beautiful, lovely"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Samantha — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Samantha.
Rhythm: Samantha is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.