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"
"star that brightens suddenly"
"wise person, prophet"
"star"
"shelter, sanctuary"
"diminutive of Julia; little Julia"
"symbol of innocence"
"fidelity, eternity, resilience"
"hay clearing"
"hardworking; labor strength"
"Victorious one"
"daughter of the sun"
"From Latin 'gratia' meaning grace or favor; a virtue name widely us..."
"sun ray, bright light"
"From Denmark"
"wise counselor"
"star of the sea"
"From Hebrew 'Noomi'; the biblical Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ru..."
"olive tree"
"night rain"
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.