שם
Shem means “name, renown”
Shem is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
Shem was a son of Noah, ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
- In Hebrew
- שם
- In English letters
- Shem
- Meaning
- Name, renown
- Origin
- Biblical
- Given to
- Boys
- Themes
- From the Bible
- Gematria value
- 340
440 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Shem.
- 440 of them are men and boys, and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
- 19 of them were born in 1950, more than in any other year.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Shem is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling שם today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish boys | 440 | fewer than 5 | – |
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Shem in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Shem.
What does the name Shem mean?
Shem means “name, renown”. Shem is a boy's name of Biblical origin. Shem was a son of Noah, ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
Is Shem a boy's name or a girl's name?
Shem is mainly a boy's name. Of the 440 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 440 are men and boys and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
How do you write Shem in Hebrew?
Shem is written שם in Hebrew.
How many people in Israel are named Shem?
440 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Shem today. The most were born in 1950.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.