Full Names for Sam

Corina Nika via Cocorrina

On a boy, he's the quintessential guys' guy name. On a girl, she's the ultimate tomboy name. No matter which gender you prefer it on, there's no denying the appeal of Sam. There are plenty of options beyond Samuel and Samantha--take a look.


Boy

Balsam- I love an unusual name with a common nickname, and Balsam is just that. He's got great nature vibes, and is probably the most unexpected way to get to Sam for a boy.

Samar- I've talked about Samar in the past--he's one of my favorite Arabic names. Samar is actually a unisex name, and means "evening conversation" (isn't that the best?).

Samir- Samir is super similar to Samar (they share the same roots), yet has a slightly different feel. While Samar is gentlemanly and sophisticated, Samir is a bit more casual and playful. He currently ranks at #757 on the US top 1000.

Samson- The Hebrew name Samson is experiencing quite a rise up the charts. In three years, he moved over 200 spaces. Parents are beginning to see him as an alternative to Samuel, due much to the fact that he can be called Sam.

Samuel- Samuel is a classic in every sense of the word. He's never been outside of the top 90, and nowadays hangs around the mid twenties. Samuel is a wonderful name, and one that many parents choose to get the nickname Sam.


Girl

Samantha- Samantha was a hit in the '90s, reaching as high as #3 in 1998. At #33, she's still quite common, but is growing more and more dim. Nevertheless, with so many pop culture namesakes, I'm sure she'll be around for a while.

Samar- Like I previously mentioned, Samar is not just a name for boys. Girls can wear it too! She's just one letter off from Tamar, so I don't foresee it being an issue at all. Your Samar can go by Sam or Sammy, or the more feminine Mara.

Samara- If you like Samar, but aren't a fan of gender confusion, I suggest Samara. She's much more common (she ranks at #631), but like many of the Sam names for girls, is fading in her popularity.

Samaya- Samaya is a variation of the Hebrew Sameh, and is better suited for American use. With Maya being so popular these days, I can definitely see Samaya gaining favor.

Sesame- If you want a truly offbeat quirky name, Sesame should be right up your alley (or should I say street?) Sure, you might get some Elmo comments, but the nickname Sam can neutralize the association.

10 X Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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X is a neglected letter for the beginning of names. Sure we love it in the middle or at the end, but X hasn't caught on for starting any names. Hopefully this list will change your mind--I found some great X names.

Xana- The -ana ending may seem boring and overused to some, but beginning with the electric letter X makes Xana exciting and unique.

Xandria- She's a shortening of Alexandria that is usable in her own right. She's perfect for people who love the ending of Alexandria, just not the five syllables.

Xanthe- Xanthe is one of my favorite names. I've loved her for a long time, but she doesn't mesh well with my other top choices. She comes from the Greek word meaning "yellow," and is pronounced (ZAN-thee).

Xanthippe- Most of you probably heard Xanthippe for the first time on Netflix's The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She goes by Xan on the show, a nickname that makes Xanthippe much more accessible. Would any of you use her?

Xaverie- At first glance, Xaverie looks like a made-up mix of Xavier and Avery, but that's not the case. She's a French and Czech form of Xavier, and a variation of Xaviera. She'd make a great import to America--I could see Xaverie catching on.

Xenobia- Xenobia is another beautiful Greek X name. She's an alternate spelling of the more familiar Zenobia--the middle name of one of Tina Fey's daughters. I can't decide which spelling I prefer, what about you all?

Xia- Add Xia to the list of three letter -ia names for girls. With the popularity of Mia and Lia (and Fia and Pia catching on), Xia is one of the more usable names on this list.

Xiamara- Need a good full name for Xia? Xiamara is a wonderful option. She means "joyful deer" (how cute!), and could always go by the less exotic Mara.

Ximenia- Ximena is the most popular X name for girls at #162 in the top 1000. The one-letter-different  Ximenia doesn't even place. She's a nature name in Spanish--the Ximenia plant produces limes.

Xois- Historically, Xois is the capital of an Egyptian dynasty, but to American ears she just sounds like Lois with an X. She's definitely an unusual appellation, but I like that she comes with the nickname Xoie.