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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Shem — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Shelton|Shema
HebrewBoy↑↑ Surging

Shem

SHEM · 1 syllables

Share Shem:
Compare with another name
Boy
#6750
↑↑ Surging
#6750
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 11
Peak rank
#5599 in 2022
5yr change
+479 ranks
Birth frequency
3.6 per 1,000,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #6750 · Rising since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Hebrew boy names
Shem

Popularity score: 11  ·  SSA Rank: #6750

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+479 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
14 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
HebrewBiblicalReligiousClassic1-syllableRareMasculinePatriarchalOld TestamentShort Form
Character
faithful obediencehonored legacysteady strengthrighteous lineage
STRONG
High confidence

Shem is a Hebrew boy name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #6750 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +479 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#6750 · very rare
Shem at a Glance
Meaning:One of Noah's three sons in the Bible, meaning 'name' or 'renown' in Hebrew. A foundational biblical patriarch and ancestor of Semitic peoples.
Language root:Hebrew · Biblical
Peak rank:#5599 in 2022
5yr change:+479 ranks
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers

No notable bearers on record.

Similar Sound
ShemSam◈Shea◈Shane◈Shaun◈Sean◈
Similar Style
NoahLeviCainSethEnochJude◈
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Shem
NoahLeviEzraBenjaminSamuelEli◈IsaacJacob
You Might Also Like
Noah
Hebrew · #2
→ Stable
Levi
Hebrew · #12
→ Stable
Cain
Hebrew · #974
↓ Declining
Seth
Hebrew · #558
↓ Declining
Enoch
Hebrew · #718
→ Stable
Jude◈
Hebrew · #156
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Shem · Overview
Summary

Shem is a Hebrew boy name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #6750 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Shem scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 479 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Religious · Classic character
Shem carries a grounded, serious quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Shem is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
shem.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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