Semaj Unisex

Popularity: #723 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SEH-maj //ˈsɛ.mæʤ//

Origin: American; English

Meaning: James (backwards)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Semaj is a modern variant of the name James, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (Jacob), meaning 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.' This name was adapted into Greek as Iakobos, which then transitioned into Latin as Iacobus. The name James became widely used in medieval Europe, particularly after the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, where it was used to refer to several biblical figures, including James the Just and James the Lesser, both of whom were apostles of Jesus.

The name gained further prominence with the establishment of the King James Version of the Bible in 1611, which solidified its usage in English-speaking contexts. Historically, the name James has been borne by numerous notable figures, including several kings of England and Scotland, such as James I of England (1567-1625), who was also James VI of Scotland.

His reign marked significant developments in English literature and politics, including the commissioning of the aforementioned Bible translation. The name has also been associated with various saints and has appeared in numerous literary works throughout the centuries, contributing to its cultural resonance.

Semaj, as a reverse spelling of James, reflects a contemporary trend in name creation that seeks to provide a unique identity while retaining a connection to traditional roots. This practice of altering established names has gained traction in various cultures, allowing for personal expression while still honoring historical significance.

The name James, and by extension Semaj, carries connotations of strength and leadership, often associated with figures of authority and moral integrity throughout history.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Semaj, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

SamJaceMasonJadenAmariZane

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Semaj. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SimeonJemJamariSanjaySimeJaxonSorenSamir

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Semaj was first seen in the United States in 1971.

Semaj has ranked as high as #1142 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Semaj has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Semaj is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Semaj was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Semaj.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 235 217 18
2024 224 205 19
2023 286 257 29
2022 199 159 40
2021 208 171 37
2020 195 169 26
2019 225 185 40
2018 224 183 41
2017 255 195 60
2016 246 191 55
2015 259 201 58
2014 278 221 57
2013 310 251 59
2012 387 295 92
2011 469 374 95
2010 467 354 113
2009 495 362 133
2008 447 338 109
2007 422 310 112
2006 416 319 97
2005 391 293 98
2004 332 254 78
2003 312 230 82
2002 297 230 67
2001 313 248 65
2000 195 142 53
1999 192 156 36
1998 165 122 43
1997 114 87 27
1996 135 103 32
1995 106 77 29
1994 86 66 20
1993 97 73 24
1992 71 52 19
1991 58 40 18
1990 68 59 9
1989 53 45 8
1988 22 16 6
1987 18 13 5
1986 23 17 6
1985 11 11 0
1984 8 0 8
1983 9 9 0
1982 21 16 5
1981 10 10 0
1980 14 14 0
1979 14 14 0
1978 10 10 0
1977 13 8 5
1976 14 14 0
1975 10 10 0
1974 17 12 5
1972 8 8 0
1971 5 5 0

Top States for Semaj (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 18
11%
GA 17
10%
FL 16
10%
SC 14
9%
LA 13
8%
PA 11
7%
NC 10
6%
MI 9
6%
VA 9
6%
CA 8
5%
MD 8
5%
OH 7
4%
IN 7
4%
NY 6
4%
NJ 5
3%
AL 5
3%