That's interesting! I've always seen
Samantha as a feminization of
Sam lol
The female forms of
Samuel (
Shmuel) &
Samson (
Shimshon) are Shmuela & Shimshona. The first is rather rare, the second extremely. Both weren't used before the beginning of the XXth century. I don't think
Shem has a female form.
I can't find any name close to
Samantha is my Hebrew names book...
~~ Claire ~~
My dear ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel and Yuri.