Shmaya is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "to hear" or "hearing." It is derived from the Hebrew verb שָׁמַע (shamah), which means "to listen," "hear," or "obey."
The name Shmaya appears in the Bible in the Book of Chronicles as one of King Hezekiah's sons. In the story, King Hezekiah becomes ill and receives a visit from the prophet Isaiah. The king asks Isaiah to inquire of the Lord whether he will recover from his illness. Isaiah returns with a message from God that Hezekiah will live for 15 more years. The king then turns to his servants, including Shmaya and Joah, and tells them what has happened. This passage is found in 2 Chronicles 32:31-32.
While the name Shmaya may not be as widely known as some other Hebrew names, it is still a unique and meaningful choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep roots in history and culture. The name Shmaya has been used by Jewish families for generations and continues to be chosen today, carrying with it the significance of listening, hearing, and obeying.
The given statistics show the number of births for the name Shmaya in the United States from 1998 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a total of 66 babies named Shmaya.
The highest number of births occurred in 2008 with 8 newborns sharing this name. The years 2003 and 2011 also saw 5 births each for the name Shmaya.
Interestingly, the years 2006 and 2013 both had 7 births for the name Shmaya, indicating that these were popular years for parents choosing this name.
More recently, there were 6 births in 2020 and another 8 births in 2023, suggesting a resurgence in popularity for the name Shmaya.
Overall, while not extremely common, the name Shmaya has seen consistent usage among American parents over the past two decades.