I wasn't much convinced by BtN's listing on
Samara ... It's a possible origin, of course, but several good sources have listed it as a Hebrew name meaning "protected by God". (The Oxygen Babynamer is one such source:
http://tools.oxygen.com/babynamer/TypeASearch.cfm?Gender=G&Unique=3&TellMeAbout=samara)
Does anyone know more definitely? I'm interested in etymology, first usage, meaning, variant forms ...
Thanks in advance,
Elinorx