According to Genesis, Shem was named first among Noah’s three sons.
Genesis 5:32 lists Noah as the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The same order appears in Genesis 6:10 and in several later passages, making Shem the conventional first-listed son in the biblical account of the Ark.
Shem is also presented as the ancestor of the peoples associated with the Semitic line in the biblical genealogies. Genesis 10 places his descendants after the Flood, and Genesis 11 continues that genealogy through Arpachshad to Abraham.
The name order does not necessarily prove that Shem was the eldest by modern historical standards. Genesis 10:21 has wording that has been interpreted in different ways concerning Shem’s age relative to Japheth. The closely related names Ham and Japheth are the other two sons who entered the Ark with Noah.