NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Sem

Diminutive form of Samuel, of Hebrew origin, meaning "name of God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.

This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2006 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Sem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sem ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 boys were registered as Sem.
  • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4107

2023

Births in 2023

4

Latest year

Peak year

2006

4 births

Estimated living

26

2026

Meaning

What does Sem mean?

The name Sem is derived from the Hebrew word "shem," which means "name" or "renown." It is a Biblical name that first appeared in the Book of Genesis, where Shem is mentioned as one of the three sons of Noah who survived the Great Flood. Shem is considered the progenitor of the Semitic peoples and languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic.

In the Hebrew Bible, Shem is described as a righteous man who lived for 600 years. He is considered an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, as he is part of the lineage that leads to Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The name Sem is an alternative spelling of Shem that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. In the ancient Akkadian language, the name was written as "Shamu," while in Greek it was transliterated as "Sem."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sem was Sem Huri, a Sumerian poet and scholar who lived around 2600 BCE. He is known for his contributions to the development of cuneiform writing and for his works on mythology and literature.

In the medieval period, there was a notable French theologian and philosopher named Sem Tob Ben Ishaq (1261-1330 CE), who wrote extensively on Jewish philosophy and ethics.

Another historical figure with the name Sem was Sem Kurdski (1587-1642), a Polish-Lithuanian diplomat and statesman who played a significant role in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's relations with the Ottoman Empire.

In the 19th century, Sem Dmitrievich Nikitin (1828-1918) was a Russian explorer and ethnographer who made important contributions to the study of Central Asia and the Silk Road.

More recently, Sem Khokholkov (1916-2002) was a Soviet and Russian actor who appeared in numerous films and stage productions throughout his career.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Sem throughout history, reflecting its roots in the ancient Hebrew tradition and its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sem over time

The chart below shows babies named Sem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Sem, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sem
01234200620142023

Decades

Sem by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4107 4 1
2010s #4141 15 4
2000s #3956 7 2

Related

Names similar to Sem

FAQ

Sem: questions and answers

How popular is the name Sem in the UK right now?

In 2023, Sem was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Sem most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Sem in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sem?

Diminutive form of Samuel, of Hebrew origin, meaning "name of God".

How many people are called Sem in the UK?

A total of 26 babies have been registered as Sem across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.