Salem

Mostly boys · SAY-lem · Hebrew

Salem is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning “peace, wholeness”. In 2025 it ranked 1,423rd for boys in the UK (20 babies) and 435th for girls in the US (711 babies).

What does Salem mean?

Hebrew: biblical place name; also an Arabic name

“peace, wholeness”

In Genesis, Melchizedek is king of Salem, traditionally identified with Jerusalem; Salem is also an Arabic name meaning safe.

Say it: SAY-lem

Is Salem a girl's or a boy's name?

In recent years, Salem has been given to girls and boys, mostly boys. In 2025, it was given to 20 boys in the UK and 711 girls and 400 boys in the US.

How popular is Salem in the UK?

Rank in 2025: #1,423among boys
Babies in 2025: 20about 1 in 15,000 boys
Five-year trend: Risingup 88% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 boys

In 2025, 20 boys in the UK were named Salem, making it the 1,423rd most popular name for boys. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 1,829th. Its busiest year was 2023, with 24 boys.

Half of all the boys named Salem in the UK since 1996 were born between 2007 and 2022, the years shaded on the chart below.

In 2024, 14% of the babies named Salem in the UK were girls.

Among boys in 2025, it was 1,358th in England and Wales.

1996Busiest: 24 in 20232025

Salem in the UK, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2025	20	#1,423
2024	18	#1,528
2023	24	#1,247
2022	13	#1,886
2021	10	#2,257
2020	13	#1,829
2019	9	#2,399
2018	11	#2,088
2017	16	#1,649
2016	6	#3,241
2015	6	#3,149
2014	5	#3,529
2013	7	#2,792
2012	7	#2,849
2011	13	#1,788
2010	12	#1,887
2009	11	#1,959
2008	5	#3,305
2007	9	#2,139
2006	6	#2,645
2005	8	#2,090
2004	9	#1,831
2003	4	#2,990
2002	7	#1,900
2001	5	#2,326
2000	5	#2,237
1999	9	#1,451
1998	5	#2,170
1997	3	#2,979
1996	3	#2,949

How popular is Salem in the US?

Rank in 2025: #435among girls
Babies in 2025: 711about 1 in 2,300 girls
Five-year trend: Risingup 94% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 girls

In 2025, 711 girls in the US were named Salem, making it the 435th most popular name for girls. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 608th. Its busiest year was 2023, with 734 girls. It first appears in the records in 1976. 400 boys were also named Salem in 2025 (679th for boys).

Half of all the girls named Salem in the US since 1880 were born between 2016 and 2023, the years shaded on the chart below.

In 1988, 28% of the babies named Salem in the US were girls. By 2025 it was 64%, with more girls than boys since 2014.

1976Busiest: 734 in 20232025

Salem in the US, year by year

Year	Girls	Rank
2025	711	#435
2024	718	#429
2023	734	#417
2022	700	#448
2021	614	#506
2020	480	#608
2019	377	#749
2018	257	#1,009
2017	205	#1,190
2016	188	#1,284
2015	162	#1,425
2014	144	#1,519
2013	91	#2,096
2012	85	#2,205
2011	65	#2,694
2010	67	#2,670
2009	82	#2,358
2008	65	#2,773
2007	56	#3,096
2006	54	#3,089
2005	57	#2,861
2004	51	#3,029
2003	44	#3,287
2002	56	#2,706
2001	52	#2,804
2000	38	#3,448
1999	41	#3,145
1998	39	#3,170
1997	33	#3,445
1996	21	#4,734
1995	20	#4,841
1994	17	#5,440
1993	10	#8,045
1992	15	#6,001
1991	10	#7,980
1990	10	#7,874
1989	10	#7,443
1988	11	#6,661
1987	11	#6,330
1986	10	#6,609
1985	8	#7,560
1984	12	#5,538
1983	10	#6,210
1982	7	#8,222
1981	0	–
1980	9	#6,788
1979	8	#7,311
1978	8	#6,946
1977	9	#6,338
1976	9	#6,046

Names like Salem

Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.

Musa Muhammad Ibrahim Hamza Abdullah Ahmed Zayd Umar Zayan Zayaan Mustafa Amir

Other spellings of Salem

Saylem

Names related to Salem

Salma Salim Salome Saleem Salima Saleema Saloma Salam

More Hebrew names

Noah Isabella Elijah James Jack Mia Ava Jude Ezra Benjamin Isaac Jacob Ethan Daniel Samuel Elias