The nameSimon
Simon is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "he has heard". The original name of the apostle Peter, it is a classic in many languages.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Simon comes from the Hebrew Shim'on, "he has heard", the name of a son of Jacob.
Origin
Hebrew, through Greek. Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot are two apostles.
History
Simon was common in medieval England and became popular again in the 1960s and 1970s. It is a classic in France, Germany and Scandinavia.
Simon in other languages
Simon is spelled the same in English, French, German and the Nordic countries. It is Simone in Italian, where it is a boys' name, Simón in Spanish, Simão in Portuguese, Szymon in Polish and Shimon in Hebrew.
Nicknames for Simon
The most common nicknames for Simon: Si and Sim.
Did you know?
- Bolivia is named after Simón Bolívar, who led much of South America to independence.
Famous people named Simon
- Saint Simon Peter
- Simon Bolívar, liberator
- Simon Cowell, television producer
- Simon Pegg, actor
Popularity of the name Simon
Simon in the United States
Simon was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 14,899 births over the decade, 22% of all recorded babies named Simon. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 2015. Half of all babies named Simon in the United States were born before 2000. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,421 births a year.
Simon in the United Kingdom
Simon was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 2,180 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named Simon. Half of all babies named Simon in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 90 births a year on average, against 121 in the five years before.
Simon in Ireland
Simon in France
Simon in Belgium
Simon in Switzerland
Simon in Austria
Simon in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Simon
Names from the same generation as Simon, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Simon? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Simon with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Simon side by side with the name of your choice.
Simon in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Simon mean?
Simon comes from the Hebrew Shim'on, "he has heard", the name of a son of Jacob.
What is the origin of the name Simon?
Hebrew, through Greek. Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot are two apostles.
Is Simon a girl's or a boy's name?
Simon is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Simon?
In 2024, Simon was the 251st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,402 births.
What are the variants of the name Simon?
Variants and related names of Simon include Simona, Simone and Simonne.
What are good sibling names for Simon?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Miriam, Talia, Elisa and Jane for a sister, Abraham, Emmanuel, Rafael and Ismael for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Simon?
The most common nicknames for Simon are Si and Sim.
Who are famous people named Simon?
Saint Simon Peter; Simon Bolívar, liberator; Simon Cowell, television producer; Simon Pegg, actor.