Sim first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Sim has been for the last 37 years (from 1974 to 2010) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Sim

A masculine name of English origin meaning "listen" or "hear".

Popularity of Sim by gender

Based on the last 37 years of data, Sim is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2010, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sim.

Year Male Count Female Count
2010 5 0
2007 6 0
2006 5 0
2004 5 0
2003 5 0
2002 5 0
1998 5 0
1995 5 0
1988 5 0
1987 8 0
1986 6 0
1985 5 0
1983 8 0
1982 11 0
1981 8 0
1980 5 0
1979 5 0
1978 5 0
1976 9 0
1974 9 0

The history of the first name Sim

The name Sim has its origins in the Hebrew language, where it is derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "shemah," meaning "to hear" or "to listen." This name has been in use since ancient times and is associated with the Jewish tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sim can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it is mentioned as the name of one of the sons of Canaan, the grandson of Noah. This reference dates back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE.

During the Middle Ages, the name Sim was relatively uncommon but still appeared in various historical records and documents. One notable bearer of this name was Sim de Calvi, a 13th-century French scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Paris.

In the 16th century, the name Sim gained some prominence in England, particularly in the northern regions. One of the most famous individuals with this name from this period was Sim Thetford, an English preacher and religious writer who lived from around 1530 to 1601.

Moving into the 17th century, the name Sim continued to be used, albeit infrequently. One notable figure was Sim Calvert, an English Quaker preacher and writer who lived from 1621 to 1692. He was known for his publications on religious topics and his advocacy for religious tolerance.

In the 18th century, the name Sim saw some usage in Scotland, where it was sometimes a shortened form of the more common name Simon. One individual who bore this name was Sim Whitelaw, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived from 1718 to 1796.

Throughout history, the name Sim has been relatively uncommon but has held a distinct connection to the Jewish and Christian traditions, as well as appearing in various historical records and texts. While not a widely popular name, it has been carried by notable individuals across different eras and regions.

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 Sim was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Sim first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 3, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/sim-meaning-and-history/.

"Sim first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/sim-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 May, 2025

Sim first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/sim-meaning-and-history/.

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