Sunem

♀ Girl

Pronounced SOO-nem /ˈsuː.nɛm/Medium

Meaning: From Shunem (Sunem), a biblical town in the territory of Issachar, home of the Shunammite woman in the Books of Kings. A biblical place name used as a given name.Low

In 30 seconds: A biblical place name: Sunem comes from Shunem, a town in Scripture (said 'SOO-nem'). Meaningful and rare.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningFrom Shunem (Sunem), a biblical town in the territory of Issachar, home of the Shunammite woman in the Books of Kings. A biblical place name used as a given name.

U.S. rank (2024)#10961 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 36

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

Sunem draws on Shunem, a biblical town in the land of Issachar, tied to the Shunammite woman in Kings. As a given name it reads biblical and uncommon; its use as a first name is modern, which we note — rare in the U.S. (said 'SOO-nem').

It appears only rarely, mostly in Spanish-speaking Christian families. Rare, biblical, and meaningful.

Did you know? Sunem comes from Shunem, a biblical town home to the Shunammite woman in the Books of Kings — a place name turned given name, quietly meaningful and rare (said 'SOO-nem').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Sunem — Hebrew; biblical Shunem place name

Variations

ShunemSunemSunemm

Nicknames

SunnyNemi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sunem…

Salem— a like biblical place name

Hadassah— a like biblical Hebrew name

Saylem— shares the -em ending

Meryem— another Hebrew name

Selah— the same biblical feel

Explore names like Sunem

By themehebrew biblical place-name rare

By meaningGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sunem mean?

Sunem comes from Shunem, a biblical town home to the Shunammite woman in the Books of Kings.

How do you pronounce Sunem?

It's said SOO-nem /ˈsuː.nɛm/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sunem a boy or girl name?

Sunem is used here for a girl.

How popular is Sunem?

Sunem is a rare name in the U.S.