Shem
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "name" or "renown".
Name Census estimates that about 716 living Americans carry the first name Shem. It is a predominantly male name (99.3% of registrations). The average person named Shem today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shem births was 1976 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shem. 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.
People living today
716
~ 1 in 478,707 Americans
Peak year
1976
23 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,750
Tracked since 1954
Gender
Gender distribution for Shem
Out of the 745 babies given the name Shem since 1880, 99.3% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Shem as a male name
- Ranked #6,750 in 2024
- 13 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1976 (23 births)
Shem as a female name
- Ranked #9,096 in 1970
- 5 female births in 1970
- Peak: 1970 (5 births)
Popularity
Shem: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shem from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 161 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Shem remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shem 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 Shem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shems live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Utah, California recorded the most babies named Shem, while California, Utah, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shem
The given name Shem has its origins in the Hebrew language and can be traced back to biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "shem," which means "name" or "renown." The name is believed to have been introduced in the book of Genesis, where it refers to one of the three sons of Noah.
Shem is considered the progenitor of the Semitic peoples, which includes the Hebrews, Arabs, and other related ethnic groups. The name gained significance in the context of the biblical narrative, where Shem is portrayed as a righteous individual who, along with his family, survived the great flood.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shem can be found in the Book of Genesis, specifically in the genealogical records following the account of the flood. The name is also mentioned in various other biblical texts, such as the Book of Chronicles and the Book of Luke, where it appears in genealogical lists.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shem. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shem Tob Ibn Shaprut, a Jewish philosopher and grammarian who lived in Spain during the 14th century (c. 1326-1408). Another prominent figure is Shem Tov ben Yitzhak ibn Ardutiel, a Spanish Jewish scholar and poet who lived in the 14th century (c. 1300-1369).
In the realm of literature, Shem is the name of one of the main characters in James Joyce's novel "Finnegans Wake," published in 1939. The character is believed to represent the author's alter ego and serves as a symbolic representation of various themes explored in the novel.
Shem Drowne (1753-1774) was an American artisan and woodcarver known for his intricate works, particularly the carved figure of an American Indian that adorned the bow of a ship. His skillful craftsmanship gained recognition during the colonial era.
Another notable individual bearing the name Shem was Shem Tov ben Joseph Ibn Falaquera (c. 1225-1295), a Spanish Jewish philosopher, translator, and commentator who made significant contributions to the field of Jewish thought during the Middle Ages.
While the name Shem has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture and biblical narratives, it has continued to be used throughout various periods and cultures, carrying with it a rich historical significance and connection to the biblical tradition.
People
Shem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shem 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
Shem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 716 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shem 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 478,707 US residents.
Is Shem a common name?
We classify Shem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 745 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shem most popular?
The single biggest year for Shem was 1976, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shem is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shem a male name?
Yes, 99.3% of people registered as Shem 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.
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.