Simon

♂ Boy

Pronounced SY-mun /ˈsaɪ.mən/High

Meaning: He has heard; from Greek Simon, from Hebrew Shimon: shama (to hear)High

In 30 seconds: A solid biblical Hebrew name meaning 'he has heard,' worn by two apostles of Jesus and countless figures throughout history. Clean, crisp, and international — Simon is enjoying a quiet 21st-century revival.

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Origin HighHebrew, Greek

MeaningHe has heard; from Greek Simon, from Hebrew Shimon: shama (to hear)

Peak year2015

Total births (all-time)≈ 58,675

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Simon derives from the Greek Σίμων (Simon), a Hellenization of the Hebrew name שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimon), from shāma ('to hear'). In the Old Testament, Simeon was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. In the New Testament, Simon was the original name of the Apostle Peter, and a second apostle also bore the name. The name was popular in medieval Europe through these New Testament connections.

Simon was a top-50 name in England for much of the 20th century but was less popular in the United States, where it declined from its 19th-century peak. In the 21st century it has been reviving gently in the U.S. as parents rediscover understated biblical classics. It is now in the top 200 boys' names and climbing.

Did you know? Two of Jesus's twelve apostles were named Simon — Simon Peter (the first pope) and Simon the Zealot — making Simon one of the most frequently recurring names in the New Testament.

Variations

SimeonSimenSimón

Nicknames

SiSy

Famous Bearers

★Simon & Garfunkel (Paul Simon) (b. 1941)
American musician of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, known for <em>The Sound of Silence</em> and <em>Bridge Over Troubled Water</em>.
★Simon Bolivar (1783–1830)
Venezuelan military and political leader who liberated much of South America from Spanish rule.

If you like Simon…

Eli— short, dignified biblical Hebrew name with the same quiet revival

Joel— two-syllable Old Testament name of comparable simplicity and depth

Peter— fellow New Testament apostle name with the same clean classic feel

Levi— Hebrew name with the same understated revival energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Simon mean?

Simon means 'he has heard' or 'God has heard,' from Hebrew Shimon (shama, to hear). Two of Jesus's apostles bore this name.

How do you pronounce Simon?

Simon is pronounced SY-mun (/ˈsaɪ.mən/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Simon a boy or girl name?

Simon is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Simon?

Simon has been reviving in the U.S. since the 2010s and is now in the top 200 boys' names.