Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Samara?

50 replies

Sarieee · 10/12/2020 23:43

What are your opinions on the name Samara? I would love to use it, but I'd love to know peoples' opinions!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SionnachRua · 10/12/2020 23:46

As in the girl from the Ring? Absolutely not.

stickygotstuck · 10/12/2020 23:46

Absolutely beautiful.

A bit biased, as it was in my shortlist Wink.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/12/2020 23:50

Gorgeous name - I don't know why it isn't more widely used. I can only think it's because some people will think of the girl from The Ring horror films, or possibly because nn Sam (Samantha) can sound a little dated. Neither reason would stop me from using the lovely sounding Samara though! And Samara Weaving may make the name more well known/ used.

Sarieee · 10/12/2020 23:52

I understand what you mean by that 😂 but then I think younger kids won't know about The Ring so it's not like it would be brought up a lot. It's a shame that they had to use that name on the character because I like the name in itself!

OP posts:
RollneckJumper · 10/12/2020 23:53

I instantly thought of The Ring too.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 10/12/2020 23:55

I first read this as Samsara which is the name of a child I taught. She was named after the perfume Smile I've not heard of Samara from The Ring so others might not make the same connection. Go for it if you like it

SionnachRua · 10/12/2020 23:55

I do think I'd use Samira tbf, always thought that was a pretty name. But Samara no way, I couldn't get past the horror movie myself. I think it's remained a popular Halloween watch (tbf it's good).

MerchantOfVenom · 10/12/2020 23:58

Never heard of the Ring. You can probably find a tenuous dodgy connection for every name, surely.

It’s a nice name, wouldn’t make my short list, but I’d think it was nice if I heard it on someone else.

MandalaYogaTapestry · 11/12/2020 00:05

It's a town in Russia.

MerchantOfVenom · 11/12/2020 00:07

So? Lots of people have the same name as towns. Georgia and Sien(n)a spring to mind.

EatsFartsAndLeaves · 11/12/2020 00:51

It's a beautiful name, go for it!

OffredOfjune · 11/12/2020 00:54

I immediately thought of the girl from The Ring too 😬

AfterSchoolWorry · 11/12/2020 01:04

I have no idea what the ring is.

But it's a beautiful name. Really gorgeous.

MrsSiba · 11/12/2020 01:07

My cousin is Samara and they shorten to Sam/Sammie. Lovely name

I've watched the Ring but didn't know the link to that name

InTropicalTrumpsLand · 11/12/2020 01:14

The Ring was my first thought too. Bit like naming your kid Chucky Annabelle.

foodiee85 · 11/12/2020 01:16

@SionnachRua

As in the girl from the Ring? Absolutely not.
😂😂😂😂😂 👍
IFuckLobstersForMoney · 11/12/2020 01:20

Sounds like a mash up name to me. Like the kids dad was called Sam and it’s mum was Zara and they decided to blend the two. Also made me think of the name Amantha, which I heard recently and was puzzled by. Samara has that same vibe of just not feeling quite “right” to my ear for some reason.

TheSunIsStillShining · 11/12/2020 01:31

There is a beautiful place in Iraq called the Great Mosque of Samarra
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_Samarra

Albeit it's with 2 r's I still thought of that first. Loved climbing it as a kid :) Now I would be terrified. No hand rails, health and safety... oh, those 80s :)

August20 · 11/12/2020 01:36

Hmm I was going to say I prefer Tamara but that was just my first thought.

I haven't heard Samara before but it is quite pretty. Presuming it's Sah-mah-rah in pronunciation.

I wouldn't choose it myself but having thought about it I quite like it.

DangerMouse17 · 11/12/2020 02:05

Lovely name but would creep me out given the horror movie. Especially if she ended up with black hair Grin

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/12/2020 02:41

It instantly makes me think of the Lada Samara. People under 30 will probably never have heard of Ladas, but they were infamously terrible (albeit solidly-built) Russian cars from decades gone by. Obviously not an issue for your baby's generation, but older people might ask if she has a sister called Riva or Niva (also terrible models of Lada) or make 'hilarious' jokes about hoping she doesn't ever suffer a breakdown.

Lofari · 11/12/2020 02:55

7 days......

IdblowJonSnow · 11/12/2020 03:40

That film, the Ring, is literally the scariest film I've ever seen. So no.

It is a pretty name though. What about Mara? I like that even more.

Inkpaperstars · 11/12/2020 04:05

I like the name Samara. I think it's elegant and suits both a child and a adult.

I have seen the Ring, maybe even twice, and I have no recollection of anyone called Samara in it Grin. The immediate and only association for me is the Australian actress Samara Weaving, who I like.

Could get shortened to Sam or Sammy so bear that in mind.

midnightstar66 · 11/12/2020 06:17

I think it's lovely, I've seen the ring but didnt remember the name from it til it was mentioned here. I think it's old enough not to matter too much now. It's nearly 20 years old, I doubt her peers will be watching it in 15 years time.