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"
"life"
"fidelity, eternity, resilience"
"great, noble (from botanist's surname)"
"God has answered me"
"grace, favor"
"island"
"gracious, dear, beloved"
"oarsman, rower"
"light, dawn (by association with Aurora)"
"honor"
"little rose"
"place name: town in Scotland"
"Bright, shining light; torch"
"oak tree, pool"
"musical concord, agreement"
"youth-producing, ever-young"
"winner, one who attains"
"lovable, dear"
"devoted to God"
"weary; tired"
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.