Fun Facts About the Name Semaya
- 121 babies named Semaya: U.S. records list 121 babies given the name Semaya from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Semaya Mean?
Semaya is a form of the biblical Hebrew name Shemaiah (שְׁמַעְיָה), which means "Yahweh has heard." The name is built from two elements: the verb shama, "to hear," and the shortened divine name Yah. It belongs to a common Hebrew pattern in which a verb comes first and a form of the divine name comes last, as in Isaiah ("Yahweh is salvation") and Hezekiah ("Yahweh has strengthened").
The S spelling, rather than Sh, comes from the Greek and Latin versions of the Hebrew Bible, where the name appears in forms such as Samaias and Semeias. European spellings like Semaia and Semaya descend from that tradition. The meaning is the same in all of them: a statement that God has heard, traditionally understood as referring to God hearing prayer.
Semaya Name History & Origins
Shemaiah is one of the more frequently used personal names in the Hebrew Bible. It is borne by a prophet who told King Rehoboam of Judah not to attack the northern tribes (1 Kings 12:22 - 24), by a prophet credited with writing a chronicle of Rehoboam's reign (2 Chronicles 12:15), by a Levite who helped bring the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15), and by priests, scribes, and temple officials. The prophet Jeremiah confronted a different Shemaiah, called the Nehelamite, who opposed his letters to the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:24 - 32).
The best-known bearer in Jewish tradition is Shemaiah, who with Avtalyon led the Sanhedrin as one of the last of the zugot, the "pairs" who handed on the oral tradition before Hillel and Shammai. Shemaiah served as nasi, or president, and his saying - "Love work, hate lordship, and do not become close to the government" - is recorded in Pirkei Avot 1:10.
Because the name passed into Greek and Latin Scripture as Samaias and Semeias, it entered European languages in S forms rather than the Hebrew Sh form. Semaya is one of these spellings. The Hebrew name has continued in use in modern times in forms such as Shemaya and Shmaya, while Semaya and Semaia appear as European spellings of the same name.
How Popular is the Name Semaya?
Semaya has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2007. Its best rank was #6,512 in 2007.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,877 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #11,970 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #17,730 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #18,427 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #16,116 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #16,196 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #11,828 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #19,094 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,556 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #15,125 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #6,512 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #13,401 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #12,817 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #13,934 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #17,462 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #16,436 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Semaya Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Semaya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Semaya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.