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Shem

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHEM /ˈʃɛm/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Shem, 'a name; renown; reputation; fame' (the eldest son of Noah)Low

In 30 seconds: A name; renown; reputation: Shem is Hebrew 'a name; renown'. Crisp, classic, and warm.

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Origin LowHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew Shem, 'a name; renown; reputation; fame' (the eldest son of Noah)

U.S. rank (2025)#8147 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1976

Total births (all-time)≈ 750

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Shem comes from Hebrew Shem, 'a name; renown; reputation; fame' — the eldest son of Noah, traditionally the ancestor of the Semitic peoples (the word 'Semitic' derives from his name). A crisp, classic name (said 'SHEM').

In the U.S. it appears in Jewish and Hebraist families. Rare, a-name-and-renown at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Shem means 'a name; renown; reputation; fame' in Hebrew — the eldest son of Noah and ancestor of the Semitic peoples — a crisp, classic name (said 'SHEM').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Shem — Hebrew etymology

Variations

SemShemuel

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Shem…

Seth— a sound-neighbor short biblical boys' name

Japheth— a fellow son-of-Noah name

Salem— another Hebrew name

Menachem— shares the -em ending

Shai— shares Shem's Hebrew roots

Explore names like Shem

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shem mean?

Shem is Hebrew for 'a name; renown; reputation; fame' (the eldest son of Noah).

How do you pronounce Shem?

It's said SHEM /ˈʃɛm/ — one syllable.

Is Shem a boy or girl name?

Shem is a boy's name.

How popular is Shem?

Shem is a rare name in the U.S.