boy's name
Simon
see-MOHN
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (France)
- Births on record 199,226
the United States
#230
2025 births
Simon is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "he has heard," borne by the apostle Peter before his renaming. It ranks fiftieth in France and 230th in the United States, and appears in every market we hold.
- Simon is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in France in 1991, when 2,380 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 559 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Simon over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 2,255 |
| 1910s | 2,235 |
| 1920s | 3,315 |
| 1930s | 3,010 |
| 1940s | 2,035 |
| 1950s | 1,730 |
| 1960s | 1,555 |
| 1970s | 3,010 |
| 1980s | 14,295 |
| 1990s | 21,585 |
| 2000s | 18,465 |
| 2010s | 15,140 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 6,560 |
What Simon means
Simon means he has heard, or listening, from the Hebrew shama. The Greek form was reinforced by the unrelated Greek word simos, snub-nosed, which is why some reference works give that instead.
Where Simon comes from
Simon comes from the Hebrew Shim'on, he has heard, borne by the second son of Jacob. The Greek Simon rendered it, and the resemblance to the Greek simos, snub-nosed, meant the two were conflated in antiquity. In the New Testament, Simon is the apostle's original name, changed by Jesus to Cephas, rendered in Greek as Peter, the rock. Several other Simons appear: Simon the Zealot, Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross, and Simon Magus, whose attempt to buy spiritual power gives English the word simony. The name has been continuously used across Europe since, in Catholic and Protestant countries alike.
Simon in use
Simon ranks fiftieth in France with about 1,055 births in 2025 and appears in every market in our data: 230 in the United States, 251 in Ireland, and presence in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales. Our records carry it from 1880 and place its peak as recently as 2015, so unlike most names of its age it is at or near its high point rather than in revival.
How popular is Simon?
In 2025, Simon was given to 1,055 babies in France, ranking #50 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Simon is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Simon
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Simon also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Simon over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Simon
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Simon in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Simon
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Simon — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Simon
What does the name Simon mean?
Simon means "he has heard," from the Hebrew shama.
Was Simon the apostle Peter's real name?
Yes. Jesus renamed him Cephas, rendered in Greek as Peter, meaning the rock.
Does Simon mean snub-nosed?
Only by confusion. The Greek simos means snub-nosed and was conflated with the Hebrew name in antiquity.
Where does the word simony come from?
From Simon Magus, who tried to buy spiritual power from the apostles.
How popular is the name Simon?
In 2025, Simon was given to 1,055 babies in France, ranking #50 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Is Simon a girl's or a boy's name?
Simon is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Simon?
Simon has 2 syllables.
When was Simon most popular?
Simon peaked in 1991, when 2,380 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Simon?
Simon is usually shortened to Sim.
Is Simon a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Simon currently ranks #50 in France. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.