Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (

Biblical The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of ...

''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon.

Meaning

The name is derived from Simeon, son of

Jacob Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ...

and

Leah Leah ''La'ya;'' from (; ) appears in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two wives of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. She is the mother of Jacob's first son ...

, patriarch of the Tribe of Simeon. The text of

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

(29:33) argues that the name of ''Simeon'' refers to Leah's belief that

God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

had heard that she was hated by Jacob, in the sense of not being as favoured as

Rachel Rachel () was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban. Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's first wife. Her aun ...

. Implying a derivation from the

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

term ''shama on'', meaning "he has heard"; this is a similar etymology as the Torah gives for the theophoric name ''

Ishmael Ishmael ''Ismaḗl''; Classical/Qur'anic Arabic: إِسْمَٰعِيْل; Modern Standard Arabic: إِسْمَاعِيْل ''ʾIsmāʿīl''; la, Ismael was the first son of Abraham, the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions; and is cons ...

'' ("God has heard"; Genesis 16:11), on the basis of which it has been argued that the tribe of Simeon may originally have been an Ishmaelite group (Cheyne and Black, '' Encyclopaedia Biblica''). Alternatively, Hitzig, W. R. Smith, Stade, and Kerber compared שִׁמְעוֹן ''Šīmə‘ōn'' to Arabic سِمع ''simˤ'' "the offspring of the hyena and the female wolf"; as supports, Smith points to Arabic tribal names ''Simˤ'' "a subdivision of the defenders (the Medinites)" and ''Samˤān'' "a subdivision of Tamim".''Encyclopædia Biblica: Q to Z'', edited by Thomas Kelly Chase
p. 4531
/ref> In classical rabbinical sources, the name is sometimes interpreted as meaning "he who listens

o the words of God O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), p ...

( Genesis Rabbah 61:4), and at other times thought to derive from ''sham 'in'', meaning "there is sin", which is argued to be a prophetic reference to Zimri's sexual miscegenation with a

Midian Midian (; he, מִדְיָן ''Mīḏyān'' ; ar, مَدْيَن, Madyan; grc-gre, Μαδιάμ, ''Madiam'') is a geographical place mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and Quran. William G. Dever states that biblical Midian was in the "northwest Ar ...

ite woman, a type of relationship which rabbinical sources regard as sinful (''Jewish Encyclopedia'').

In the Bible

Simeon (son of Jacob) Simeon () was the second of the six sons of Jacob and Leah (Jacob’s second son), and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Simeon, according to the Book of Genesis. However, some Biblical scholars view this as postdiction, an eponymous metap ...

, in the Hebrew Bible * Tribe of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel * Simeon the Just (3rd century BC?) a Jewish High Priest, also called "Simeon the Righteous" (not the same as the New Testament figure, below) *

Simeon (Gospel of Luke) Simeon ( el, Συμεών) at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to , met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, i ...

, figure in the New Testament who blessed Jesus and his parents in the Jerusalem temple *

Simeon Niger Simon Niger is a person in the Book of Acts The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Ch ...

, person in the Book of Acts

Persons with the given name

Up to 1700 AD

:''Ordered chronologically.'' *

Simeon of Jerusalem Simeon of Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian leader and according to most Christian traditions the second Bishop of Jerusalem (63 or 70–107 or 117), succeeding James, brother of Jesus. Simeon is sometimes identified with Simon, brother of Jesu ...

(15–14 BC–c. 107 or 117), 2nd Bishop of Jerusalem, perhaps one of the Seventy Apostles sent out by Jesus *

Simeon ben Gamliel Simeon ben Gamliel (I) ( or רשב"ג הראשון; c. 10 BCE – 70 CE) was a '' Tanna'' sage and leader of the Jewish people. He served as nasi of the Great Sanhedrin at Jerusalem during the outbreak of the First Jewish–Roman War, succeedi ...

, Nasi of the Sanhedrin in 50 AD *

Simeon ben Gamliel II Simeon (or Shimon) ben Gamaliel II (Hebrew: ) was a Tanna of the third generation and president of the Great Sanhedrin. He was the son of Gamaliel II. Biography Simeon was a youth in Betar when the Bar Kokhba revolt broke out, but when that fort ...

, Nasi of the Sanhedrin in c. 118 AD *

Simeon Bar Kokhba Simon ben Koseba or Cosiba ( he, שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כֹסֵבָא, translit= Šīmʾōn bar Ḵōsēḇaʾ‎ ; died 135 CE), commonly known as Bar Kokhba ( he, שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כּוֹכְבָא‎, translit=Šīmʾōn bar ...

, leader of the Bar Kokhba revolt *

Simeon bar Yochai Shimon bar Yochai ( Zoharic Aramaic: שמעון בר יוחאי, ''Shim'on bar Yoḥai'') or Shimon ben Yochai ( Mishnaic Hebrew: שמעון בן יוחאי, ''Shim'on ben Yoḥai''), also known by the acronym Rashbi, was a 2nd-century '' tannai ...

, rabbi of the Tannaim period, possibly the author of the ''Zohar'' *

Simeon Stylites Simeon Stylites or Symeon the Stylite syc, ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܐܣܛܘܢܐ ', Koine Greek ', ar, سمعان العمودي ' (c. 390 – 2 September 459) was a Syrian Christian ascetic, who achieved notability by living 37 years on a smal ...

(c. 388–459 AD), Christian pillar-hermit from Sisan, Syria *

Simeon Stylites III Simeon Stylites III was a pillar hermit bearing the same name as Simeon Stylites and Simeon Stylites the Younger. He is honoured by both the Greek Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church. He is hence believed to have lived in the fifth century b ...

, 5th-century pillar-hermit *

Simeon Stylites the Younger Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger, also known as Simeon of the Admirable Mountain ( el, Συμεὼν ὁ νεώτερος ὁ στυλίτης, Arabic: مار سمعان العمودي الأصغر ''mār semʻān l-ʻamūdī l-asghar'') (521 ...

(521–597 AD), hermit and pillar-hermit from Antioch *Simeon, the name of one priest and one deacon martyred with

Abda and Abdjesus Abdisho and Abda were two successive bishops of Kashkar who were martyred along with 38 companions in 376 during the Forty-Year Persecution in the Sasanian Empire. Accused by his nephew of being a spy for the Roman Empire, Abdisho was arrested ...

* Simeon the Holy Fool, 6th-century Christian saint and hermit *

Simeon I of Bulgaria Tsar Simeon (also Symeon) I the Great ( cu, цѣсар҄ь Сѷмеѡ́нъ А҃ Вели́къ, cěsarĭ Sỳmeonŭ prĭvŭ Velikŭ bg, цар Симеон I Велики, Simeon I Veliki el, Συμεών Αʹ ὁ Μέγας, Sumeṓn prôto ...

(866–927), Bulgarian tsar *

Symeon Metaphrastes Symeon, called Metaphrastes or the Metaphrast (; ; died c. 1000), was a Byzantine writer and official. He is regarded as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and his feast day falls on 9 or 28 November. He is best known for his 10-volume Greek ...

(10th century?), Byzantine hagiographer *

Symeon the New Theologian Symeon the New Theologian ( el, Συμεὼν ὁ Νέος Θεολόγος; 949–1022) was an Eastern Orthodox Christian monk and poet who was the last of three saints canonized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and given the title of "Theolo ...

(949–1022), Eastern Orthodox saint *

Simeon (abbot) Simeon (died 21 November 1093) was a relative of King William I of England and the brother of Walkelin, Bishop of Winchester.Knowles, et al ''Heads of Religious Houses'' p. 45 It was through his brother's influence that Simeon was made prior of W ...

(994–1094), Abbot of Ely Cathedral *

Simeon Seth Symeon Seth, "Symeōn Magister of Antioch onof Sēth". His first name may also be spelled Simeon or Simeo. (c. 1035 – c. 1110)Antonie Pietrobelli (2016)Qui est Syméon Seth ?Le Projet Syméon Seth. was a Byzantine scientist, translator and offi ...

(fl. 1070), Jewish Byzantine physician, writer, and grand chamberlain from Antioch * Simeon of Mantua (died 1016), Armenian monk *

Symeon of Durham __NOTOC__ Symeon (or Simeon) of Durham (died after 1129) was an English chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory. Biography Symeon entered the Benedictine monastery at Jarrow as a youth. It moved to Durham in 1074, and he was professed in 1085 or ...

(died after 1129), English chronicler and monk of Durham Priory *

Stefan Nemanja Stefan Nemanja (Serbian Cyrillic: , ; – 13 February 1199) was the Grand Prince ( Veliki Župan) of the Serbian Grand Principality (also known as Raška, lat. ) from 1166 to 1196. A member of the Vukanović dynasty, Nemanja founded the Nema ...

(1113–1199), canonized as Saint Simeon, Serbian ruler and saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church *

Simeon of Moscow Simeon Ivanovich Gordiy (the Proud) (Семён Иванович Гордый in Russian) (7 September 1317 – 27 April 1353) was Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of Vladimir. Simeon continued his father's policies aimed to increase the power ...

, 14th-century Grand Prince of Moscow * Simeon Uroš, 14th-century ruler of Epirus and Thessaly * Simon of Trent, 15th-century boy supposedly killed by Jews, and formerly a martyr of the Catholic Church *

Patriarch Symeon I of Constantinople Symeon I of Trebizond ( el, ), (? – autumn 1486) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople three times: for a short time in 1466, from 1471 to 1475 and from 1482 to 1486. In 1484 he presided over the Synod of Constantinople of 1484 which rep ...

, or Symeon of Trebizond, reigned three times: 1466, 1471–1475 and 1482–1486 *

Simeon Bekbulatovich Simeon Bekbulatovich (russian: Симеон Бекбулатович; born Sain-Bulat, russian: Саин-Булат; died 5 January 1616) was a Russian statesman of Tatar origin, descendant of Genghis Khan, who briefly served as a figurehead rul ...

, ''de jure'' Tsar of Russia (1575–1576) *

Symeon of Polotsk Symeon (Simeon) of Polotsk or Symeon Polotsky (russian: Симео́н По́лоцкий; born as ''Samuel Piotrowski-Sitnianowicz'', russian: Самуи́л Петро́вский-Ситнянович; December 12, 1629 – August 25, 1680) was ...

(1629–1680), Russian poet, dramatist, churchman, and enlightener

Since 1700 AD

:''Ordered alphabetically by last name.'' *

Semyon Belits-Geiman Semyon Viktorovich Belits-Geiman (russian: Семён Викторович Белиц-Гейман; born 16 February 1945) is a former Soviet freestyle swimmer. He set a world record in the 800 m freestyle, and won two Olympic medals. Early l ...

(born 1945), former Soviet Olympic freestyle swimmer *

Semyon Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonnyy ( rus, Семён Миха́йлович Будённый, Semyon Mikháylovich Budyonnyy, p=sʲɪˈmʲɵn mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ bʊˈdʲɵnːɨj, a=ru-Simeon Budyonniy.ogg; – 26 October 1973) was a Russian ca ...

(1883–1973), Soviet military commander *Simeon Coxe (usually known only as Simeon), American musician, singer and synth player of

Silver Apples Silver Apples were an American electronic rock group from New York, active between 1967 and 1970, before reforming in the mid-1990s. It was composed of Simeon (born Simeon Oliver Coxe III, June 4, 1938 – September 8, 2020), who performed ...

* Simeon Jocelyn (1799-1879), minister and abolitionist *

Simeon Mangiuca Simeon Mangiuca (September 2, 1831 – ) was an Austro-Hungarian ethnic Romanian folklorist. Born in Broșteni, Caraș-Severin County, in the Banat region, his father Ioachim was a Romanian Orthodox priest; his mother Calina (''née'' Bercean ...

(1831–1890), Austro-Hungarian Romanian folklorist *

Simeon V. Marcelo Simeon V. Marcelo (born October 21, 1953) is a Filipino lawyer and was the third Ombudsman of the Philippines. As the Ombudsman, he acted as protector of the people against the illegal and unjust acts of those who are in the public service. He i ...

(born 1953), Filipino lawyer and former Ombudsman and Solicitor-General of the Philippines * Simeon North (1765–1852), American gunmaker *

Siméon Denis Poisson Baron Siméon Denis Poisson FRS FRSE (; 21 June 1781 – 25 April 1840) was a French mathematician and physicist who worked on statistics, complex analysis, partial differential equations, the calculus of variations, analytical mechanics, electri ...

(1781–1840), French mathematician *

Simeon Rice Simeon James Rice (; born February 24, 1974) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. In his 12-year NFL career, Rice recorded 122 sacks, forced 25 fumbles, recov ...

(born 1974), American football player *

Simeon Woods Richardson Simeon Woods Richardson (born September 27, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the United States national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Amateur ca ...

(born 2000), American professional baseball player *

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Simeon Borisov von Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ( bg, Симеон Борисов Сакскобургготски, translit=Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, ; born 16 June 1937) is a Bulgarian politician who reigned as the last tsar of the Kingdom of Bu ...

(born 1937), Tsar of Bulgaria (1943–1946), prime minister of Bulgaria (2001–2005) * Semyon Sereda (1871–1933), Soviet politician *

Simeon Thomas Simeon Thomas (born September 22, 1993) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana and was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also played for t ...

(born 1993), American football player *

Simeon Tienpont Simeon Tienpont (born 20 January 1982) is a Dutch sailor who has competed in multiple Volvo Ocean Races and America's Cups. He first participated in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06 aboard '' ABN Amro II''. Tienpont joined Oracle Team USA for th ...

(born 1982), Dutch sailor * Semyon Varlamov (born 1988), Russian ice hockey player *

Simeon S. Willis Simeon Slavens Willis (December 1, 1879April 1, 1965) was an American attorney who served as the 46th Governor of Kentucky, United States, serving from 1943 to 1947. He was the only Republican elected governor of Kentucky between 1927 and 1967. ...

(1879–1965), American lawyer, judge, and politician from Kentucky

References