Šimkai was formerly part of the German Empire. In the German Empire, the place was called Szimken.
The place is now called Šimkai and belongs to Lithuania.
| Historical place name | Country | Administration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Szimken | German Empire | Memel | before the Versailles Treaty |
| Šimkai | Lithuania | Klaipėda | after the Versailles Treaty |
| Szimken | German Empire | Memel | 1939 |
| Šimkai | Soviet Union | Klaipėda/Klajpeda | 1945 |
| Šimkaj | Soviet Union | Klaipėda/Klajpeda | 1945 |
| Šimkai | Lithuania | Gargždai | 1992 |