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 Arabic Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

I made this one.

I don't put too much stock into the meanings of names, but this list has some great ones! If name meanings are something you care about, consider one of the following for your son.

Basim- Starting off with a good one, Basim means "smiling." He's not a popular name at all, but with easy spelling and pronounciation, I think he'd do well in the U.S.

Eyad- Eyad is a modern Arabic name (I couldn't find a meaning). I recently discovered him when watching the Israeli film A Borrowed Identity. The movie was amazing, which obviously colored my view of the main character's name. Watch the film and get back to me :)

Hakeem- Hakeem (and his variant, Hakim) has a debatable meaning. Some say it's "judicious," others, "wise." I prefer the latter, but it's really a win-win.

Nadim- Possibly the name with the best meaning of the list, Nadim is roughly defined as "drinking companion." Count him under Names for People 21 and Older.

Osman- Not many Arabic names come with wonderful nicknames, but I couldn't resist calling a little Osman Ozzie. I mean, how cute is that?

Rafi- Does Rafi still reek of children's songs? I met a young Rafi recently, and he seems perfectly wearable to me. He's a cross-cultural name with many different meanings, but the Arabic form means "noble."

Samar- Samar is a unisex name that means "evening conversation." Sorry Nadim, but that one might be my favorite. If that swanky meaning doesn't convince you, I don't know what will. Maybe the fact that you can call him Sam?

Sulaiman- Sulaiman is the Arabic form of Solomon, which, as many people know, means "peace." He's different yet familiar, with some exotic flair. Perfect.

Zaki- We really are winning with all these meanings today! Zaki means "pure." You could use him as a nickname for any of the Zach- names, but I really like him on his own.

Zinedine- Zinedine has roots in Arabic and French, and means "beauty of faith" or "jewel of religion." Again, the meaning is outstanding. He's pronounced ZAYN-ah-din or ZI-nah-din--though the former allows you to use the nickname Zane.

10 Y Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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Last week's list featured many historic Mediterranean gems. This week's list looks like the class list for a Northeastern prep school. Well, for the most part. Maybe not Yosemite.

Yale- I mean, you can't get much preppier than Yale. Just make sure he doesn't feel like he has to live up to his name.

Yancy- Yancy may sound like an upper-crust British name, but he actually also has Native American roots. The Native American version Yancey means "yankee," while the British name means "son of Jan."

Yannick- Yannick is a French name that arrived in the U.S. around 1980. He's currently at an all time American high, sitting pretty at #2902. Yannick is a form of John, and would make an interesting way to get to Nick. Other spellings include Yanick and Yannic.

Yarden- Ooh, Yarden is my favorite of today's list. This Hebrew name has ties to rivers and gardens, which I think is lovely. Fun fact: the name Jordan stems from Yarden.

Yeats- Yeats (which rhymes with and means "gates") is the perfect name for the son of poetry lovers. Poet William Butler Yeats is Irish, while his surname hails from England.

Yoel- The Hebrew form of Joel has a much more modern and pleasing sound. He's at #1507 in America, but is trendier in Israel and Spanish speaking countries.

Yonah- At #135, Jonah is a pretty popular name. That's why it's surprising to see that Yonah, the name he came from, is all the way down at #3195. I was expecting top 1500, at least. I mean, even Yannick is more popular. Yonah has everything modern parents are looking for in a boys name--he's short, soft, and ends in -ah. What's not to like?

York- Whether you live in NYC, or just love peppermint patties, York is a great name to have on the list. He's concise but strong--a deadly combination.

Yosemite- I did say these were names you never thought of using. If you're a fan of national parks or love Yosemite Sam, this could work for you. Maybe just as a middle though.

Yule- And, we're back to preppy names. Yule is probably best for a Christmastime baby, but that shouldn't stop you from using him in May (or any month).

Nicknames for Jessamine

Jessamine is an elaborate name rich with nicknames. If she's too much of a mouthful to you, consider one of these nicknames.

Jean
Jess
Jessa
Jessie
Min
Mina
Sam
Sammie (Sammy)

Mamma Mia! The Names From the Movie

As you may or may not know, Mamma Mia! is my favorite movie. It's not because I share a name with the main character (though that's pretty cool), but instead because I love movie musicals. I thought I would analyze the characters and actors names today.

Sophia (Sophie)- A beautiful name of course, but WAY too overused.
Amanda- She is one of my favorite actresses, but her name is too plain. The "man" in there bothers me.
Donna- A good choice for a women that age, but it's personally not my style.
Meryl- I really like this name. It's not too feminine, but very stylish (Meryl Streep is my all time favorite actress).
Sam- Could they have picked more boring names for these men? Sam is so boring.
Pierce- Very interesting. I prefer Pierre, the French version, but I can see Pierce getting popular.
Harry- Again, a boring choice. I am surprised that this name isn't more popular today, considering our country's love for Harry Potter.
Colin: This name is okay. It reminds me of a colon.
Bill- I get why they used this form of William, but I prefer Will or especially Liam.
Stellan: This is a really cool name. I wouldn't use it, but it sounds like stellar, which is completly awesome!
Sky: Eww. I hate this name for a boy. I hate it for a girl too, but especially for a guy.
Dominic: This is an amazing name. It sounds cool and modern, but not flashy.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Look forward to more movie character name analyses!

Unisex Names: The Ones I Prefer for Boys

Unisex names I prefer for boys: Tyler, Charlie, Brady, Alex, Finley, Jaden, Mason, Nico, Micah, Phoenix, Rowan, Sam, Toby, Tony.