Name of the Day: Simon
He’s Biblical, he’s brainy, he’s two syllables and ends in “n.” It’s a marvel this choice is not racing up the popularity charts.
Thanks to Kim for suggesting Simon for today’s Name of the Day.
Simon has all the makings of a hit, but came in at a mere #258 in 2007. True, the name has appeared consistently in the US rankings. But consider these Top 200 monikers for boys born last year: Samuel, Charles, Henry, Josiah, Colin, Oscar, Oliver, Jonah and Wesley. Geek chic is big. And while the smart Simon would fit right in with this crowd, he seems to have plateaued in the mid-200s.
His roots go all the way back to the Old Testament. The Hebrew Shimon translates roughly to “he has listened” or possibly “God has heard.” Shimon and variant Simeon are also in modern use, but Simon has been most often heard in the West.
Simon is a small screen staple. Secret agent Simon Templar leapt from novels to ITV and NBC’s line-ups as The Saint in the 60s. In the 80s, brothers AJ and Rick Simon solved crimes as private detectives on CBS’ Simon & Simon. More recently, Simon Tam numbered among the rag-tag band of adventurers aboard the starship Serenity on cult favorite Firefly. And the wholesome WB/CW family drama 7th Heaven also featured a son called Simon. Throw in a singing chipmunk and the boy with the chalk drawings, and it’s a name that has been much heard over the past few decades.
If we could travel back to 12th and 13th century England, we’d find plenty of men called Simon. Some suggest that the Hebrew Simon merged with the Old Norse Sigmund to become, along with Geoffrey and Roger, one of the most popular choices in the early medieval era. It appears that the Normans dropped the “g” and brought Simund along when they invaded. Merged with the existing Simon, it took off.
There have been plenty of saints born with the name Simon, but the most famous is the one who doffed it in favor of Peter - the first Pope. He’s still referenced as “the apostle Simon Peter” in some places. Doubtless that’s why the name has always remained in use, but in the post-Protestant Reformation era, it is probably part of the reason Simon was dropped in favor of more obscure Old Testament choices.
Is Simon at last due for a comeback? Today, the Europeans have embraced him. He comes in at #5 in Austria and is a Top 25 choice in Belgium, Sweden and Denmark.
We suspect that Simon stumbles because of his long history of use. In nursery rhyme, we find Simple Simon meeting a pie man. Our children play Simon Says. Simon, Alvin and Theodore are inescapable, especially at Christmas with their song. And, of course, there’s Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings. It gives the name a certain misplaced innocence that make it easy to dismiss.
It also creates an opportunity. If you’re looking for something perfectly classic with a sound that suits our times, Simon will satisfy.
Filed under: As Seen on TV, Medieval Monikers, Names for Boys, Names of the Day, Saints |
Tags: Simon
You know, I wanted a Simeon, I got a Simon.
He just didn’t look that adventurous. And he is most definitely a Simon. Sweet, suave, good with the ladies and smart. I definitely love the name. Having a boy to attach it too makes me even fonder of it.
I have a hard time being objective about Simon but I do know his drawback is twofold: the chipmunk (whom I find adorable, he’s my favorite!) and the Pieman, but I would think Shrek redeemed that to a large degree, he saved Gingy in the first film. *shrug* no accounting for taste, my mother used to say. His dad was appalled at their names, then. Fast foward 22 years and you’d think he named them. “What? Yeah. I did good. And I did good at 18 (I was a week shy of 19 when I had Simon & his brother, Leo).
I’ve been happy with Simon for 22 years and look forward to many more. I don’t care what the genreal consensus is for him, I love him (name & kid) and whether anyone else loves his name or not, I don’t care a whit.. Simon’s absolutely aces in my book! Awesome!
Despite the fact that they are chipmunks, I LOVE all three names: Simon, Alvin, and Theodore. Unfortunately, naming three chldren those names would get me some strange looks.
And I know an adorable little Simon, older brother Lukas, whose parents are Scandinavian. This name of the day is a winner for me!
I adore Simon. I actually had a dog named Simon for a while, before he nipped my toddler nephew.
I still love the name. I would have saved it for a child, but my husband found it too nerdy for people use.
Lola, I love Simon and Leo! What a sweet sib set. You did excellent for 18, or for names, period. I still get comments that people are surprised by our name choices at 21 (We’ve picked James or Daphne. If it had been my way, James would be Gideon, though). A girl I went to school with had her first at 18 and named her Emmylynne. *shudder*
Simon is just wonderful. It’s probably my #1 (as of right this minute) pick for our little one due in March, should he be a he. It’s just the perfect blend of comfy-shabby-chic with a hint of British thrown in. Thumbs way up here!
Thanks! *blush* For what it’s worth, James is my favorite of the classics (William & Philip are the other two) and I would use Daphne myself in a heartbeat to honor me, if my other half didn’t go “Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?” every time I brought it up. Laura & Daphne mean the same thing. A Daphne would easily honor me without repeating sounds! I think you did awesome with names! Gideon’s really lovely but James thrills me. (and I adore the possibility of a little Jamie, at least once in a while!) James & Daphne.. awesome.
Awww, thank you! I personally wouldn’t ever match twin names, but if I had to, I would use Daphne and Laurel for the same reason you would use it. We’re having James Kenneth, so I’m looking forward to calling him Jamey once in a while. We’re so screwed if we ever have another boy, though. We can’t agree at all. I want to use Daphne really bad, too.
Love Simon! Very nerdy-chic. My husband finds it too British, otherwise it would be high on our list.
This is going to sound weird but I was thinking.. you did my Mom yesterday (Frances) & my second oldest today, have you done Leo? I went searching and couldn’t find him anywhere. Just simple Leo, not Leopold, Leonard, Leon or any other, longer thing just sweet, simple Leo. Any chance he might be a NotD anytime between now & Easter? And just for good measure, Josephine? She’s been mentioned as a side note in a few but nothing on her alone. Maybe?
Lola, of course! I need to sit down with my calendar in the morning, but consider both on the calendar … sooner rather than later.
I’m not as taken with Simon as everyone else, but I think that’s only because familiarity
breeds contempt - not that I’m in any way contemptuous of Simon but I am very familiar with him! T give you an idea, for my age group in Britain (20’s), Simon is about as popular ad Mark, Stephen, Andrew, Paul and other such stalwarts. I would be mega excited to meet a baby Simon though - as there certainly arn’t any of them about!
This is definately a name high on my list of potential boy names! I just love this name, it’s just very cute, yet sturdy and sweet!