Fwd: Samuel, Samantha

[Gerald Cohen]

>X-Accept-Language: en
>Date:         Sat, 20 Apr 2002 18:17:52 -0400
>Reply-To: American Name Society <ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU>
>Sender: American Name Society <ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU>
>From: "Edwin D. Lawson" <edlawson at NETSYNC.NET>
>Subject:      Samuel, Samantha
>Comments: cc: Leslie Dunkling <LeslieDunkling at aol.com>, phanks at oup.co.uk
>To: ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Apr 2002 22:49:15.0554 (UTC)
>FILETIME=[98F1F020:01C1E8BD]
>
>Samuel < Hebrew, from the Bible. "his name is God." according  to
>Smadar Shir Sidi (The complete book of Hebrew baby names),  and
>Kolatch (The complete dictionary of English and Hebrew first names),
>.Dunkling (Facts on File dictionary of first names) gives two
>meanings, "heard of God" or "name of God".  Hanks and Hodges (A
>dictionary of first names) has " . . . possibly meaning 'He (God)
>has hearkened' (presumably to the prayers of a mother for a son.  It
>may also be understood as a contracted form of the Hebrew sha'ul
>me'el meaning 'asked of God'.
>
>I would tend to favor the "God has hearkened (or God heard)."
>
>Dunkling goes on to explain that Samantha  is a feminine form of
>Samuel and goes back to the 17th century.  Dunkling has a fairly
>long interesting discussion of the  use of the name in literature
>and films.
>
>Gerald Cohen wrote:
>
>>   Here's another interesting message from the American Name Society
>>(below my signoff). BTW, I don't have the pertinent reference books
>>handy, but I thought that the full form of "Sam" ("Samuel", Hebrew:"
>>Shmuel") derives from the Hebrew imperative plural of the root "SHM"
>>(= hear, listen) and "el" (= God). I don't know the full etymology of
>>"Samantha." And how many people would know that "Sam" and its
>>variants ultimately refer to hearing/listening?
>>
>>Gerald Cohen
>>
>>  >Date:         Sat, 20 Apr 2002 12:03:25 -0500
>>>Reply-To: American Name Society <ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU>
>>>Sender: American Name Society <ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU>
>>>From: "Lynn C. Hattendorf Westney" <lynnhatt at UIC.EDU>
>>>Subject:      Pet Names
>>>To: ANS-L at LISTSERV.BINGHAMTON.EDU
>>>
>>>
>>><http://www.petrix.com/catnames/>http://www.petrix.com/catnames/
>>>
>>><http://www.petrix.com/dognames/>http://www.petrix.com/dognames/
>>>The most popular dog name in North America is Sam, Sammie or Samantha
>>>(which means "listener"). The second most popular is Max, Maxie, Maxwell
>>>or Maxine (which means "the greatest" in Latin). Third is Lady, followed
>>>by Bear, Maggie, Buddy, Tasha, Chelsea (or Chelsie), Holly and Shasta.
>>>Other very popular names are Brandy, Ginger and Taffy.
>>>
>>>
>>>Lynn C. Hattendorf Westney, Associate Professor,
>>>Assistant Reference Librarian
>>>Coordinator of Reference Collection Development
>>>Coordinator of CRRC: Career and Resume Resources Collection
>>>
>>>The University of Illinois at Chicago  (UIC)
>>>The Richard J. Daley Library (MC/234) Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680-8198 USA
>>>Lynn's Office: 312-996-9110
>>>Reference Department: 312-996-2728
>>>FAX: 312-413-0424
>>>
>>
>--
>
>Edwin D. Lawson
><edlawson at netsync.net>
><lawson at fredonia.edu> can also be used
>
>Professor Emeritus of Psychology
>State University College, Fredonia
>
>Telephone: 716 673-1921
>