Shimon

שִׁמְעוֹן

• Gender: Male
• Origin: Biblical / Rabbinic Hebrew
• Meaning: hearing

• Shimon is one of the foundational names of the Jewish people, borne by the second son of Jacob and Leah and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its meaning, "hearing," reflects the tender biblical moment when Leah names her son in gratitude, saying that God heard she was unloved. It is a name that has been in continuous use for thousands of years, never flashy, always solid.

  Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres carried this name through six decades of Israeli statesmanship, giving it an association with diplomacy and visionary leadership. It carries weight without heaviness, sounding distinguished on a diplomat and friendly on a toddler. Rock-solid reliability defines Shimon — it never goes in or out of fashion but simply endures.

• Alternate Spellings: Shim'on
• English Equivalent:
  Simon
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Shlomit
  ,
  Batya
  ,
  Reuven
  ,
  Avram