Semahj
A masculine name, being the reverse spelling of "James".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Semahj. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Semahj today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Semahj births was 2013 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Semahj. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Semahj. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2013
6 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#11,914
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Semahj: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Semahj by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Semahj during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Semahj
The name Semahj is a unique and intriguing one that has captured the interest of onomatologists and etymologists alike. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Sumerian civilization, where it is believed to have derived from the word "shamas" meaning "sun" or "light."
In the earliest known records from the Sumerian cuneiform tablets, dating back to around 3500 BCE, the name Semahj is mentioned in connection with various deities and rituals associated with the sun and its life-giving properties. It is thought to have been a popular name among the Sumerians, particularly for children born during the summer solstice or during periods of abundant sunlight.
As the Sumerian culture gave way to the Babylonian and Akkadian empires, the name Semahj underwent slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. It appeared in various ancient Mesopotamian texts, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, where a character bearing a similar name is mentioned as a wise and respected advisor to the king.
Throughout the centuries, the name Semahj has been carried by several notable individuals, each leaving their mark on history. One of the earliest known figures was Semahj of Ur, a renowned Sumerian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 3rd century BCE. His groundbreaking work on celestial observations and the development of the sexagesimal numeral system laid the foundation for many future advancements in science and mathematics.
In the 5th century CE, Semahj the Scribe was a celebrated calligrapher and historian in the Byzantine Empire. His exquisite penmanship and detailed accounts of the era's events have been invaluable sources for scholars studying the Byzantine period.
During the Islamic Golden Age, Semahj al-Din al-Farisi, born in 1135 CE, was a renowned Persian polymath who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and optics. His treatise on the refraction of light and the development of the first camera obscura were groundbreaking achievements that influenced subsequent generations of scientists.
In the 16th century, Semahj the Navigator was a skilled Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyages to India. His meticulous charts and navigation logs were instrumental in mapping the trade routes that would eventually connect Europe to the Far East.
More recently, Semahj Mubarak was a prominent Egyptian author and poet who lived from 1889 to 1972. His powerful and evocative works, which often explored themes of identity, freedom, and social justice, have left an indelible mark on modern Arabic literature.
While the name Semahj may have evolved and taken on different forms throughout history, its underlying connection to the sun and the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment has remained a constant thread. From ancient Sumerian astronomers to modern-day scholars and artists, those who have carried this name have left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and enlighten generations to come.
People
Semahj + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Semahj as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Semahj: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Semahj?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Semahj going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Semahj a common name?
We classify Semahj as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Semahj most popular?
The single biggest year for Semahj was 2013, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Semahj is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Semahj in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Semahj a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Semahj in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Semahj still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Semahj in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Semahj can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Semahj?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.