Meaning & History
Symon is a Ukrainian form of Simon, chiefly used in ecclesiastical contexts. The name derives from the New Testament Greek Simon, itself a variant of the Hebrew Shimʿon (שִׁמְעוֹן), meaning "hearing, listening" from the root shamaʿ (שָׁמַע) "to hear." In the Old Testament, the name appears as Simeon, borne by the second son of Jacob (whose account is told in Genesis 29:33). The New Testament spelling Simon may have been influenced by the unrelated Greek name Simon.
In the New Testament, Simon was notably the original name of the apostle Peter (Matthew 16:17-18), as well as the man who carried Jesus' cross (Matthew 27:32). Due to the apostle's prominence, the name Simon became widespread among Christians. In Ukraine, Symon emerged as a local variant alongside Semen, fitting into patterns of adaptation in Slavic languages.
Notable bearers of Symon include Symon Budny (c. 1530–1593), a Polish-Belarusian humanist and theologian, and Symon Petliura (1879–1926), a Ukrainian statesman and military leader who served as head of the Ukrainian People's Republic. In modern contexts, Symon also functions as a surname, as seen with individuals like Michael Symon, an American chef, and Vanda Symon, a New Zealand crime writer.
Etymology and Biblical Roots
The Ukrainian Symon corresponds to the Hebrew Shimʿon, from which Saint Symeon (the recipient of Jesus in the temple according to Gospel of Luke) received the name via Greek Symeon. In the Old Testament, Simeon was Jacob's second son, and it is from this tradition that the name's Ukrainian usage is primarily ecclesiastical, often distinguished from the more common Semen.
Distribution and Variants
Symon belongs to the East Slavic naming tradition, particularly Ukrainian and Belarusian. Variants include Semen in Ukrainian and Russian, Siamion in Belarusian, and Ximun in Basque — reflecting cross-cultural adaptations.
- Meaning: "hearing, listening"
- Origin: Ukrainian form of Simon, from Hebrew Shimʿon
- Type: First name (male)
- Usage regions: Ukraine, also found among Ukrainian diaspora
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Symon