Shem is a rare boys' name that peaked in 1976 and has grown less common since.
Shem is predominantly a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #8,147 for boy births in the United States (and #16,981 across all names), given to 10 babies. Shem was first reported in SSA data in 1954 and peaked in 1976 (23 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | — | #8,147 |
| 2024 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,771 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | — | #7,234 |
| 2022 | 17 | 17 | — | #5,600 |
| 2021 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,617 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | — | #6,979 |
| 2019 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,761 |
| 2018 | 17 | 17 | — | #5,507 |
| 2017 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,743 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 | — | #7,530 |
| 2015 | 17 | 17 | — | #5,480 |
| 2014 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,676 |
| 2013 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,614 |
| 2012 | 7 | 7 | — | #10,586 |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | — | #10,599 |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 | — | #10,581 |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | — | #8,206 |
| 2008 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,725 |
| 2007 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,550 |
| 2006 | 14 | 14 | — | #6,047 |
| 2005 | 15 | 15 | — | #5,534 |
| 2004 | 12 | 12 | — | #6,456 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 | — | #6,653 |
| 2002 | 10 | 10 | — | #6,970 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | — | #10,359 |
| 2000 | 14 | 14 | — | #5,261 |
| 1999 | 12 | 12 | — | #5,601 |
| 1998 | 11 | 11 | — | #5,776 |
| 1997 | 6 | — | — | #9,096 |
| 1996 | 8 | — | — | #7,019 |
| 1995 | 13 | — | — | #4,744 |
| 1994 | 9 | — | — | #6,277 |
| 1993 | 10 | — | — | #5,712 |
| 1992 | 13 | — | — | #4,536 |
| 1991 | 16 | — | — | #3,792 |
| 1990 | 12 | — | — | #4,633 |
| 1989 | 6 | — | — | #7,766 |
| 1988 | 15 | — | — | #3,503 |
| 1987 | 14 | — | — | #3,480 |
| 1986 | 10 | — | — | #4,415 |
| 1985 | 8 | — | — | #5,075 |
| 1984 | 10 | — | — | #4,160 |
| 1983 | 15 | — | — | #3,050 |
| 1982 | 17 | — | — | #2,807 |
| 1981 | 18 | — | — | #2,662 |
| 1980 | 10 | — | — | #4,088 |
| 1979 | 14 | — | — | #3,146 |
| 1978 | 23 | — | — | #2,119 |
| 1977 | 21 | — | — | #2,259 |
| 1976 | 23 | — | — | #2,103 |
| 1975 | 13 | — | — | #3,056 |
| 1974 | 12 | — | — | #3,097 |
| 1973 | 16 | — | — | #2,496 |
| 1972 | 17 | — | — | #2,312 |
| 1971 | 9 | — | — | #3,614 |
| 1970 | 13 | — | #9,096 | #3,788 |
| 1969 | 8 | — | — | #3,547 |
| 1968 | 9 | — | — | #3,072 |
| 1966 | 7 | — | — | #3,497 |
| 1965 | 6 | — | — | #3,867 |
| 1960 | 6 | — | — | #3,989 |
| 1954 | 5 | — | — | #4,294 |