October 28
Why this day? This is the day the name-day calendar sets aside for Simon the Zealot.
Apostle of the first century, a central figure among the early disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem. He chose to follow a radical path of justice and fidelity, remaining close to the other apostles despite internal tensions and external pressures. His name, linked to zeal, testifies to a total commitment without violence.
What stays with us: One can defend one's ideas with passion without ever abandoning humanity. This figure shows that firmness of conviction and kindness are not incompatible.
Simone is celebrated in France, the United States, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Germany on October 28.
Simone is the feminine form of Simon, from the Hebrew Shim'on, "God has heard." A quintessentially biblical name, linked to the apostle Simon, but which has especially marked the 20th century in France thanks to the strength of its great figures. Rare are names so closely tied to emancipation and thought.
Very popular in the first half of the 20th century, between 1900 and 1940, Simone evokes a generation of strong-willed women. Impossible to pronounce without thinking of Simone de Beauvoir, pioneer of feminism, Simone Veil, survivor of the Shoah and author of the abortion law, buried in the Pantheon, or Simone Signoret, the immense actress. The name carries an aura of intelligence, courage, and freedom.
Today perceived as retro-chic, Simone is making a comeback among young parents fascinated by its nobility and feminist legacy. It is a name that commands respect, laden with history and convictions. A name not taken lightly.
Simone doesn’t ask anyone for permission. With a very strong independence and a need for attention reduced to almost zero, she embodies the free woman par excellence — the one who thinks with her own mind, decides for herself, and doesn’t wait for anyone’s approval. Her high ambition is not ostentatious: it’s an intellectual ambition, a tenacious will to leave a mark and change things, following the example of the great Simones who shaped the century.
She’s not the queen of high society. Her measured diplomacy and restrained humor betray a character all of one piece, sometimes abrupt, who prefers frankness to flattery. Simone says what she thinks, even at the risk of offending. You can’t imagine her smoothing out her edges to please: she goes straight ahead, with the determination of someone carrying a name that means “God has listened” — because Simone, after all, listens mostly to her own conscience.
Behind this fighter’s armor, however, lies an authentic sensitivity, the kind that fuels her battles and convictions. Her solid stability gives her the consistency of great causes pursued throughout an entire life, never giving up. Simone isn’t the type to change her mind following trends: what she considers right, she defends to the end.
It’s natural to think of Simone de Beauvoir and Simone Veil: the intelligence, courage, and elegance of an uncompromising commitment. Bearing this name means inheriting a lineage of pioneers. Simone impresses, sometimes intimidates, but commands respect. A woman of head and heart, independent down to her fingertips, who would rather be right alone than wrong in company.
Playful portrait, for entertainment.
What science says. The effect of a first name on character is documented, and several scientific studies have looked into it. They do not show that a name contains a hidden personality, but that it captures attention, triggers social expectations and slightly changes the way others respond to us. Read our article what the psychology of first names is based on to find out more.
Simone carries in his heart an ancient echo, a resonance that transforms a kiss into prayer and desire into deep listening. To love for him is not to impose, but to welcome; it is the sacred art of feeling the silence between words, of intercepting the soul before the bodies even unite. His seduction is discreet yet devastating: it does not shout, it whispers. He looks at you with an intensity that promises to fulfill your most hidden needs, making you feel the only valid voice in a noisy world. He dislikes superficial games, false conquest strategies. What attracts him is cruel authenticity, the naked truth hidden beneath the skin. Conversely, he is repelled by chattering superficiality, by a lightness that does not touch the essence. Simone seeks a soul with which to converse in the dark, where every breath is a kept promise. He is a lover who listens to respond, not to win. His sex is a ritual of spiritual and carnal connection, where the hunger of the other is satisfied with a devotion that is almost monastic, yet burning. He does not possess you, he fulfills you. And in this total surrender, he finds his greatest, ecstatic satisfaction.
Simon comes from the Hebrew Shim'on, "(God) has heard," through the Greek Simôn. It is a biblical first name borne by two apostles.
On October 28th, the feast day of Saint Simon the Zealous, the Apostle, celebrated with Saint Jude.
"He whom God heard and granted—this name embodies the concepts of listening and attention."
Both biblical and millennial, he has experienced a genuine revival since the 2000s and remains very popular today.
Simone and Simeone in Italian, Simón in Spanish, Simeon in English, Chimone/Shimon in Hebrew, Semion in Russian.
Playful profile, for entertainment.
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