Shyhem
Anglicized form of the Arabic name Shihab meaning "meteor" or "shooting star".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Shyhem. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shyhem today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shyhem births was 1996 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shyhem. 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 Shyhem. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1996
5 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
1996 SSA rank
#10,322
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Shyhem: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shyhem 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 Shyhem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shyhem
The name Shyhem is believed to have originated from the ancient Semitic languages spoken in the Middle East region, particularly in the areas around modern-day Israel, Jordan, and Syria. Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Semitic word "šym," meaning "name" or "reputation." This suggests that the name may have held a deep significance, carrying the notion of one's identity or standing within the community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shyhem can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it appears as the name of an ancient Canaanite city located in what is now the West Bank. According to the biblical account, this city, known as Shechem, played a crucial role in the history of the Israelites, serving as a significant religious and political center during the period of the Judges.
In the ancient Egyptian records, there are references to a city called "Shekhem," which is believed to be the same location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. This indicates that the name may have been in use among various cultures and civilizations that inhabited the region during ancient times.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shyhem or variations of it. One of the earliest recorded figures was Shyhem ben Hamor, a prince of Shechem mentioned in the Book of Genesis. According to the biblical account, he was involved in a significant event that led to the slaying of many inhabitants of Shechem by the sons of Jacob.
Another historical figure with this name was Shyhem ibn Abi'l-Hayr, an Arab poet and writer who lived in the 10th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and is considered one of the most influential poets of his time.
In the 12th century, Shyhem al-Suri was a Syrian geographer and cartographer who produced detailed maps and descriptions of the regions he explored. His work was highly influential and helped advance the field of cartography during the medieval period.
During the Ottoman Empire, Shyhem Pasha was a prominent military leader and statesman who served as the governor of several provinces in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the expansion and administration of the Ottoman territories.
In more recent times, Shyhem Jamjoum was a Palestinian writer and activist who lived from 1918 to 1988. He was known for his literary works that explored themes of Palestinian identity and resistance against Israeli occupation.
While the name Shyhem may not be as common today, its rich historical roots and associations with various cultures and notable figures throughout the ages make it a name with a fascinating and multifaceted heritage.
People
Shyhem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shyhem 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
Shyhem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shyhem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shyhem 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Shyhem a common name?
We classify Shyhem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shyhem most popular?
The single biggest year for Shyhem was 1996, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shyhem is about 29 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 Shyhem in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shyhem a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shyhem 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 Shyhem still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shyhem 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 Shyhem 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 people have Shyhem as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.