Salem
Arabic · Girl · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Salem
Salem derives from the Arabic word "salām" (سلام), meaning "peace" or "safety." The name has Hebrew roots as well, related to the biblical city of Jerusalem, whose name contains the same peace-related etymology.
Cross-referenced with Behind the Name and Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.
Etymology
Salem derives from the Arabic word "salām" (سلام), meaning "peace" or "safety." The name has Hebrew roots as well, related to the biblical city of Jerusalem, whose name contains the same peace-related etymology.
The name is used predominantly in Arabic-speaking Muslim communities and among Jewish populations, with historical significance in Islamic tradition as a greeting and concept of wholeness, and in Jewish tradition through its connection to Zion and Jerusalem.
Salem currently ranks #436 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2023.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
Arabic, English (Modern) names that sit beautifully beside SalemSimilar names you might like
Names starting with SMore names starting with S
- Saffron
- Sahar
- Saim
- Saige
- Safiyyah
- Sabri
- Sahara
- Sahra
- Saif
- Sahid
- Sagarika
- Sabrena
- Safia
- Safwan
- Sadia
- Safaa
- Sahana
- Saada
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Names that sound like Salem
Phonetic match, not just spelling"Selma is derived from the Arabic word "salima," meaning "safe" or "peaceful," with linguistic roots in Semitic languages."
"Selena derives from the Greek name Σελήνη (Selene), meaning "moon" or "lunar," rooted in the Greek word for moonlight."
"The given name 'Salman' means 'peace' and its linguistic root is in the Arabic language, derived from the word 'salam',…"
"The given name 'Salma' means 'peace' and its linguistic root is in the Arabic language."
"Salome derives from the Hebrew name Shlomit, meaning "peaceful" or "tranquil," related to the Hebrew word "shalom" (peace)."
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"Soline is derived from the Latin name Solina, which comes from the word "sol" meaning "sun," thus signifying "of the…"
"Solomiia is the Ukrainian form of Salome, derived from the Hebrew "shalom", meaning "peace.""
"The name Solomia means "peace" and derives from the Hebrew root *shalom* (שָׁלוֹם), making it a variant of the name…"
"Souleymane is the French spelling of Sulayman, derived from the Arabic root s-l-m meaning "peace," and is the Islamic form…"
"Selim derives from the Arabic root س-ل-م (s-l-m), meaning "peaceful," "safe," or "sound," and is related to the word Islam…"