Simon

Simon is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives from Shimon, meaning “God has heard” or “he has heard.” In sacred texts the name appears in several figures; in the New Testament, two of the Twelve Apostles are named Simon, most notably Simon Peter, and another is Simon the Zealot.

Variants and usage vary by language. In English and French the form is Simon; in Spanish it is Simón; Portuguese uses Simão; Polish uses Szymon; and Estonian uses Siim. The related biblical form Simeon is common in liturgical or historical contexts. Across languages, pronunciation and spelling reflect local traditions while preserving the same root meaning.

Notable people named Simon span many fields. In entertainment, Simon Pegg and Simon Cowell are widely known. In classical music, conductor Sir Simon Rattle is prominent. The science writer Simon Singh has contributed to popular science literature. The name also appears in history in the Spanish form Simón, as in Simón Bolívar, the South American independence leader.

As a surname, Simon occurs in various cultures and can be found among Jewish and some European families, though it is more common as a given name. In literature and media, the name appears for fictional characters across many genres, contributing to its enduring presence in Anglophone and European cultures.

Simon is also the title of an electronic memory game produced by Milton Bradley in 1978, known for players repeating increasingly complex sequences of lights and tones.