Salem
Salem is a given name of Arabic origin. The Arabic name Salim is also sometimes rendered as Salem in English, though pronounced with a short a and long ee. In Arabic, the two are distinctly different names, although their meanings are etymologically related.
- Arabic
- English
Meaning & Origin of Salem
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Salem is a given name of Arabic origin. The Arabic name Salim is also sometimes rendered as Salem in English, though pronounced with a short a and long ee. In Arabic, the two are distinctly different names, although their meanings are etymologically related.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
- English
The Story of Salem
As a girl name
American parents first put Salem on the record books as a girl name in 1976, with 9 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 800 Salems were born — ranking #379 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 66% of all recorded Salems. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #379 among girl names with 800 births, rising sharply (+93% over the past five years). In total, more than 7K Salems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Salem on the record books as a boy name in 1912, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 486 Salems were born — ranking #596 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 55% of all recorded Salems. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #596 among boy names with 486 births, rising sharply (+85% over the past five years). In total, more than 5K Salems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Salem
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Salem. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Salem
Phonetically similar names — useful when Salem is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Salem
What does the name Salem mean?
What is the origin of the name Salem?
How popular is Salem in 2026?
When was Salem most popular?
In which U.S. states is Salem most popular?
Is Salem a unisex name?
What names go well with Salem?
What are nicknames or variants of Salem?
About the name Salem
Salem is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1976 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Salem's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #379. Use the chart and map above to compare Salem's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.