Simon
Say it: SY-mon/ˈsaɪmən/
BoyMeans usually explained as "hearing" or "listening"5 letters2 syllables
#244
in Ireland (2025)
#239 with spellings combined
19
babies in 2025
#46
best rank (1987)
4,754
babies since 1964
Down 72
10-year rank change
Simon through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | #239 |
| 2024 | 15 | #269 |
| 2023 | 18 | #237 |
| 2022 | 17 | #266 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 22 | #216 |
| 2019 | 15 | #287 |
| 2018 | 23 | #230 |
| 2017 | 28 | #203 |
| 2016 | 29 | #196 |
| 2015 | 37 | #167 |
| 2014 | 32 | #184 |
| 2013 | 36 | #178 |
| 2012 | 36 | #180 |
| 2011 | 50 | #142 |
| 2010 | 37 | #174 |
| 2009 | 33 | #173 |
| 2008 | 40 | #163 |
| 2007 | 48 | #132 |
| 2006 | 51 | #118 |
| 2005 | 46 | #119 |
| 2004 | 49 | #112 |
| 2003 | 46 | #110 |
| 2002 | 36 | #127 |
| 2001 | 45 | #107 |
| 2000 | 44 | #109 |
| 1999 | 43 | #107 |
| 1998 | 46 | #92 |
| 1997 | 67 | #88 |
| 1996 | 59 | #97 |
| 1995 | 64 | #85 |
| 1994 | 59 | #92 |
| 1993 | 94 | #72 |
| 1992 | 117 | #66 |
| 1991 | 117 | #63 |
| 1990 | 133 | #60 |
| 1989 | 120 | #63 |
| 1988 | 173 | #46 |
| 1987 | 186 | #46 |
| 1986 | 174 | #50 |
| 1985 | 146 | #52 |
| 1984 | 151 | #55 |
| 1983 | 152 | #57 |
| 1982 | 141 | #64 |
| 1981 | 144 | #64 |
| 1980 | 163 | #62 |
| 1979 | 153 | #62 |
| 1978 | 133 | #66 |
| 1977 | 135 | #67 |
| 1976 | 147 | #62 |
| 1975 | 147 | #59 |
| 1974 | 88 | #80 |
| 1973 | 108 | #73 |
| 1972 | 113 | #69 |
| 1971 | 80 | #89 |
| 1970 | 82 | #78 |
| 1969 | 59 | #91 |
| 1968 | 53 | #87 |
| 1967 | 77 | #70 |
| 1966 | 67 | #78 |
| 1965 | 60 | #75 |
| 1964 | 36 | #91 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Simon mean?
Usually explained as "hearing" or "listening"
Greek form of the Hebrew Shimon, which merged with an old Greek name Simon.
Say it right
SYmon
The story of Simon
Simon is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shimon, usually explained as “hearing” or “listening”. Greek already had a name Simon of its own, probably from a word for snub-nosed, and the two blended together. In the first century it was the most common name among Jewish men in Roman Judea.
That is why so many people called Simon appear in the New Testament. The best known is Simon the fisherman, whom Jesus renamed Peter. Another apostle was Simon the Zealot. In medieval England the name also absorbed an unrelated Norse and Old English name, Sigmund.
Simon was well used in Ireland through the 1970s and 1980s. It reached number 46 in 1987, with 186 boys that year. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 95 in 2000. It has been much quieter since, and 19 boys were named Simon in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Simon (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Simon (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Si
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Simon | 19 | 4,754 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #95 (2000); 236 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.