SAMARA: From the Hebrew for "guarded by God" and Latin for "seedling." A pretty choice.

SAMSON: From the Hebrew for "shining man." Buy this child a set of weights early and let him wear his hair long. Relatives: Sampson, Sanson, Sansone, Sam, Sammy. Namesakes: Samson and Delilah, Ralph Sampson.

SAMUEL: From the Hebrew for "His name is God." Samuel has fallen in and out of favor in this century but lately is back -- with a bullet. The little-used Samuele is quite lovely for a girl. Relatives: Samuela, Samuella, Samuele, Samuelson, Samella, Samelle, Sam, Sammy, Sammie, Shemuel, Schmuel, Shem. Namesakes: Samuel Goldwyn, Samuel Adams, Samuel Beckett, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Samuel McKenzie Newman, "Uncle Sam."

SANDERS: Middle English for "Alexander's son." Relatives: Sander, Sandor, Sandy, Sands, Sanderson, Saunders, Saunderson. Namesakes: Sander Vanocur, Sandy Richardson, Tommy Sands, George Sanders, George Sand.

SANDRA: A form of Alexandra. Sandra was in the top twenty in the fifties -- perhaps because of the matinee heroine Sandra Dee. Relatives: Sondra, Sandie, Sandy, Sandee. Namesakes: Sandra Day O'Connor, Sandy Duncan.

SANFORD: Old English for "dweller at the sandy ford." Relatives: Sanborn, Sandy, Sandford. Namesakes: Georg Sanford Brown, Mount Sanford, Chase and Sanborn coffee.