| Gideon | Simon | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | hewer, feller | He has heard |
| Origin | hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | GID-ee-un | SY-mun |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2017 (1,161) | 2015 (1,645) |
| In 2025 | 993 | 1,529 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Gideon | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6,236 | 8,646 |
| 2010s | 9,221 | 14,880 |
| 2000s | 3,460 | 13,428 |
| 1990s | 1,089 | 7,514 |
| 1980s | 704 | 5,395 |
| 1970s | 402 | 3,574 |
| 1960s | 207 | 2,194 |
| 1950s | 160 | 2,120 |
| 1940s | 120 | 2,068 |
| 1930s | 115 | 2,124 |
| 1920s | 226 | 3,210 |
| 1910s | 185 | 2,780 |
| 1900s | 40 | 778 |
| 1890s | 24 | 731 |
| 1880s | 81 | 841 |
From the Hebrew verb gada, 'to hew down, cut off,' hence 'hewer' or 'feller' — fitting the judge who cut down Baal's altar (Judges 6). The common 'mighty warrior' gloss is a secondary association from his role, not the meaning of the root; because no noun is formed from the verb, the exact nuance stays somewhat uncertain.
From the Hebrew Shimʿon, “he has heard.” Simon Peter is chief among the apostles.
Simon is more popular than Gideon today: about 1,529 US babies were given the name Simon in 2025, compared with 993 named Gideon.
Gideon means hewer, feller (hebrew origin), while Simon means He has heard (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Gideon first appears in 1880 and Simon in 1880, so Gideon has the longer recorded history.