Sem is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'name' or 'protection'. It is often considered unisex but is more commonly used as a male name. The name Sem appears in the Bible as one of the sons of Noah. In various languages and cultures, Sem has different associations:
- In Arabic, it means 'height'.
- In Hebrew, it also translates to 'name' or 'protection'.
- In Russian, it means 'peace'.
- In German, it refers to a 'shark'.
Sem is not among the top 1000 most popular names in many English-speaking countries. Its popularity has remained relatively consistent over time but is considered somewhat unique compared to other names of biblical origin.
Famous individuals with the name Sem include Sem Cheol-hwi, a South Korean football manager and former player, and Sempronius Gracchus, an ancient Roman tribune known for his efforts to protect the plebeians from unfair treatment.
The name Sem has experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years with a peak of 12 births in 2006 and a low of 5 births in both 1988/1989, 1999/2000, and 2018. There's a notable spike in popularity around the early 2000s with consistently high numbers from 2001 to 2004. Since then, the number of births has ranged between 6 to 11 per year, with a recent drop to 6 in both 2014 and 2022.