Shems
How to say it: SHEMS · /ˈʃɛms/
Sun - Arabic Shams in Maghrebi spelling, meaning sun and source of light.
Shems was the 2,600th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 0 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1870s, its births are up 2.2-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,826 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #2,600 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 0 |
| Share of births | 1 in 67,660 |
| Peak decade | 1870s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.2 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,826 |
| In France, 2025 | #999 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Shems peaked in the 1870s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Shems is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, French.
In France: #999 for girls in 2025.
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