Boy · #10,889 in 2026

Shamai

Shammai also known as Shammai the Elder was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of the sage and scholar Hillel.

Current Rank
#10,889
Peak Rank
#10,889 (2024)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2024
First Year
2024
Last Year
2024
Peak Year
#10889
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Shamai

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Shammai also known as Shammai the Elder was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of the sage and scholar Hillel.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Shammai, along with Hillel his contemporary, took on oversight of the Sanhedrin sometime after Abtalion and Shemayah relinquished power. Shammai's school of thought became known as the House of Shammai ( Hebrew : בית שמאי , Beit Shammai ), as Hillel's was known as the House of Hillel ( Beit Hillel ). After Menahem the Essene resigned from the office of Av Beit Din (or vice-president) of the Sanhedrin, Shammai was elected to it, Hillel being at the time Nasi (president) . After Hillel died, circa 10 CE, Shammai took his place as president, but no vice-president from the minority was elected so

The Story of Shamai

Shamai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2024, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 6 Shamais were born — ranking #10,889 that year. As of 2026, Shamai ranks #10,889 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Shamais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Shamai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Shamai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shamai

What does the name Shamai mean?
Shammai also known as Shammai the Elder was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of the sage and scholar Hillel.
How popular is Shamai in 2026?
In 2026, Shamai ranks #10,889 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Shamai most popular?
Shamai reached its peak popularity in 2024, ranking #10,889 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Shamai a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Shamai is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Shamai?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Shamai include Swift, Caruso, Azizi. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Swift
Peak #10889
👦
Caruso
Peak #10889
👦
Azizi
Peak #10889
👦
Adeem
Peak #10889
👦
Gator
Peak #10889
👦
Yacouba
Peak #10889
👦
Wadley
Peak #10889
👦
Kashi
Peak #10889

About the name Shamai

Shamai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2024 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Shamai's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #10,889. Use the chart and map above to compare Shamai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.