Find out how popular the first name Semaja has been for the last 26 years (from 1996 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Semaja by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Semaja is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 88% of people named Semaja being female.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Semaja.

The history of the first name Semaja

The name Semaja is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language. It is a variation of the Hebrew name Shemaiah, which means "the Lord has heard". The name can be traced back to ancient times, with its earliest known mention found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the Book of Ezra, one of the priests who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity was named Shemaiah. This biblical figure lived around the 5th century BC. The name Shemaiah was also borne by several other individuals mentioned in the Old Testament, including a prophet during the reign of King Rehoboam.

As the name spread across different cultures and regions, it underwent various spelling variations, leading to the form Semaja. While the name's Hebrew roots are evident, it is possible that the spelling Semaja was influenced by other languages or cultural adaptations over time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Semaja can be found in the historical records of the Kingdom of Hungary. In the 14th century, a nobleman named Semaja of Kanizsa was a prominent figure in the court of King Louis I of Hungary, who ruled from 1342 to 1382.

Another notable individual with the name Semaja was a 16th-century Ottoman scholar and writer from the city of Skopje, now located in North Macedonia. Semaja of Skopje was renowned for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology.

In the 17th century, Semaja Hasson was a prominent Jewish merchant and community leader in the city of Livorno, Italy. He played a significant role in the economic and cultural life of the Jewish community during that time.

During the 18th century, Semaja Dubno was a renowned Talmudic scholar and author from the Russian Empire. He wrote several influential works on Jewish law and philosophy, and his teachings had a lasting impact on the Jewish intellectual tradition.

In more recent history, Semaja Ferrell was an American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the 1990s and early 2000s. Born in 1976, he played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers and the Detroit Pistons.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Semaja was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Semaja, please contact us.

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