The name relates to one of the 12 stones on the Hoshen, the sacred breastplate worn by a Jewish high priest (Exodus 28:20), similar to other nearby towns: Nofekh, Bareket, Leshem and Ahlama (the former name of Beit Arif).

In the early 1990s, Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Sharon put forward a new plan to create a town in the area.

[5] Shoham is an upper-middle-class town, and residency there is considered a status symbol in Israel.

[6] Its residential areas primarily have single-family homes with yards and duplexes, although there are a few apartment complexes.

[5] The environment is considered a top priority in Shoham, and each neighborhood has municipal gardens and green spaces.