A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Simeon since 1880
Babies named Simeon per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2019, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Simeon's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 153 |
| 1890s | 65 |
| 1900s | 69 |
| 1910s | 238 |
| 1920s | 273 |
| 1930s | 227 |
| 1940s | 219 |
| 1950s | 262 |
| 1960s | 287 |
| 1970s | 603 |
| 1980s | 878 |
| 1990s | 1,204 |
| 2000s | 1,932 |
| 2010s | 1,973 |
| 2020s | 1,079 |
Meaning & origin
Simeon is a biblical name with a long history of use in English-speaking countries. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880, the year it peaked in popularity at rank 1,091, a ranking it held exactly the same in 2025. Since 1986, its use has been rising after a period of decline. The name has been particularly favored in states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Simeon stands out as a less common alternative to the similar Simon, retaining a traditional and dignified feel rooted in its Hebrew etymology.
Simeon derives from the Hebrew name Shimon, from the verb shama (to hear). In the Old Testament, Simeon is the second son of Jacob and Leah, who said 'God has heard' that she was unloved. The name appears in the New Testament as the aged prophet who recognized the infant Jesus, as well as one of the apostles (Simon Peter). It was used among Puritans in the 17th century and has remained in occasional use in English-speaking countries.
Where Simeon is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Simeon” around the world
Where Simeon lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
95
babies in 2024
Quebec
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sim, Si
Sibling names for Simeon
Names that share Simeon's style, for a brother or sister.
