Simon is a given name, from Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן Šimʻôn, meaning "listen" or "hearing". It is also a classical Greek name, deriving from an adjective meaning "flat-nosed". In the first century AD, Simon was the most popular male name for Jews in Roman Judea.
The Hebrew name is Hellenised as Symeon () in the Septuagint, and in the New Testament as both Symeon and, according to most authorities, Simon. Some commentators on the New Testament say that it could be a Hellenised form of the Hebrew Shim'on, but if not then it indicates that Peter came from a "Hellenistic background"; this was not unheard of in this era, as contemporary Jews such as Andrew the Apostle (Simon's brother) sometimes bore originally Greek names.
Simon is one Latinised version of the name, the others being Simeon or Symeon. This practice carried over into English: in the King James Version, the name Simeon Niger is spelt Simeon (Acts 13:1) as is Simeon (Gospel of Luke) (), while Peter is called Simon ().
In other languages
(). This name appears in Greek mythology as one of the Telchines. In Greek means "flat-nosed". Συμεών is the Hellenization of the name found in the Septuagint and parts of the New Testament, this form continues in use through the mediaeval era, viz. Symeon the New Theologian. , , (), () () Aramaic (middle and modern): (, or , )
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List of people with the given name Simon
Simon is a common name and below is just a selection of notable people. For a comprehensive list see .
Ancient
Simon the Shoemaker (5th century BCE), friend of Socrates
Simon Thassi (r. 141-135 BCE), high priest of Jerusalem and ruler of Judaea
Simon of Peraea (died 4 BCE), Jewish rebel mentioned by Josephus
Simon the Zealot, apostle of Jesus
Simon bar Giora, (died 70 CE), Judean leader in the First Jewish-Roman War
Simon bar Kokhba
Simon of Bet-Parsaje (died 339), Christian martyred with Mana of Bet-Parsaje
Simon of Bet-Titta (died 447), Christian martyr
Medieval
Simeon I of Bulgaria (died 927), tsar of the First Bulgarian Empire
Simon the Tanner (10th century), Coptic saint
Simon of Kalocsa (fl. 1108–1142), Hungarian prelate
Simon, Bishop of Transylvania (fl. 1111–1113), Hungarian prelate
Simon of Worcester (died 1150), English Bishop of Worcester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (1208–1265) Leader of the barons against Henry III Simon Kacsics (fl. 1212–1228), Hungarian lord Simon Kacsics, Count of the Székelys (fl. 1291–1327), Hungarian lord Simon of Southwell, canon lawyer and Treasurer of Lichfield Cathedral Simon Sudbury (died 1381) English Archbishop and Lord Chancellor Simon, Metropolitan of Moscow (died 1512), Russian Orthodox leader