Simon
Simon was the 230th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,529 babies. Its best year was 1886, when it ranked 142nd; the most babies were born in 2015 (1,645). Over the last ten years it has moved up 5 places. More babies were named Simon in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Meaning disputed · Hebrew, Greek
Say it SY-muhn /ˈsaɪmən/
- Rank in 2025
- #230 boys, up 19 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,529boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20151,645 babies
- Total since 1880
- 70,444babies recorded
What does the name Simon mean?
Simon is the name of two apostles, including Simon Peter. DMNES explains that Greek Simon was an existing Greek name meaning 'flat-nosed', used in the New Testament to render the Hebrew Shimon, from a verb meaning 'to hear'. In Genesis 29:33 Leah names her son Simeon (Shimon) because God has heard her. Wiktionary adds that English Simon also absorbed an unrelated Old Norse name, Sigmundr. Wikipedia notes Simon was the most popular Jewish man's name in 1st-century Judea.
שִׁמְעוֹן (Biblical Hebrew, “Shimon (from 'to hear')”)Σίμων (Ancient Greek, “Simon, flat-nosed”)
How sure is this? Disputed. Two overlapping sources: Hebrew 'he has heard' and Greek 'flat-nosed'; the New Testament name merges them.
Related names: Simeon, Shimon, Simone, Simón, Si.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Simon', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 29:33, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Simon', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Simon (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nicknames for Simon
The usual nicknames for Simon are Si.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | Traditional | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Simons go by each one.
Simon popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 161 since 1913.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #230 | 1,529 |
| 2020 | #249 | 1,409 |
| 2010 | #250 | 1,368 |
| 2000 | #263 | 1,253 |
| 1990 | #372 | 626 |
| 1980 | #372 | 460 |
| 1970 | #485 | 281 |
| 1960 | #532 | 222 |
| 1950 | #443 | 225 |
| 1940 | #421 | 193 |
| 1930 | #331 | 281 |
| 1920 | #310 | 342 |
| 1910 | #198 | 132 |
| 1900 | #236 | 74 |
| 1890 | #185 | 73 |
| 1880 | #157 | 88 |
How popular is Simon, counting every spelling?
Simon is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #248 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #230 for Simon on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,529 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simon | 1,529 | #230 | 7,237 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Simon?
1,529 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Simon (0.42 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Simon born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 5 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Simon.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Simon?
About 56,400 people born in the US named Simon are alive today, with a median age of 20; half are between 10 and 34. That makes Simon mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Simon by state
How common Simon was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in District of Columbia (6.1×), Vermont (4.8×), Minnesota (2.5×), South Dakota (2.4×), New Hampshire (2.3×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Delaware, Rhode Island.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Simon: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Simon, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Simon · Sibling names for Simon
Questions about the name Simon
What does Simon mean?
The meaning of Simon is disputed: two overlapping sources: Hebrew 'he has heard' and Greek 'flat-nosed'; the New Testament name merges them.
How popular is the name Simon?
Simon was the 230th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,529 babies. Its best year was 1886, when it ranked 142nd; the most babies were born in 2015 (1,645). Over the last ten years it has moved up 5 places. More babies were named Simon in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Simon a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Simon in the US.
Where is Simon most popular?
In 2021–2025, Simon was most common in District of Columbia (5.15 per 1,000 boys), followed by Vermont and Minnesota.