Shem

Hebrew, "name"

Is this the most underrated biblical boy name? In a naming climate where Old Testament figures like Noah and Ezra are commonplace, Shem (a son of Noah) remains strangely uncommon. Short and sweet, easy to spell, and with wholesome grounded vibes, it has a lot of potential. And with its roots in a word meaning “name”, it’s especially meaningful for name lovers!

The Dutch form, Sem, is one of the most popular boy names in the Netherlands, where one-syllable names reign supreme. Sam and Siem (from Simon) also rank highly there.

Nameberry of the Day features our favorite names – but we want to showcase your favorites too! Send us the name you love most to grace@nameberry.com and don’t forget to include the origin, the meaning, a paragraph on why you love it, plus your own name, for the chance to see it featured here in the future.