Salma
Salma was the 937th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 278 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 569th with 442 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 134 places. More babies were named Salma in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning safe, peaceful (Arabic, probable) · Arabic
Say it SAHL-muh /ˈsɑlmə/
- Rank in 2025
- #937 girls, up 111 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 278girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1999442 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,316babies recorded
What does the name Salma mean?
Salma is an Arabic name, salmā, from the root s-l-m, which carries meanings of safety, soundness and peace (the same root as salām 'peace' and Islam). It is usually explained as 'safe' or 'peaceful'. Salma was the name of women in early Arabic poetry and is common across the Arab world. The Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek, of Lebanese descent, is a well-known bearer.
سَلْمَى (salmā) (Arabic, “Salma”)س ل م (s-l-m) (Arabic, “safe, sound, peace”)
How sure is this? Probable. The root is clear; the exact sense of the name form is explained in different ways.
Related names: Selma, Salima, Salme.
See also: Arabic names, names that mean peace.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Salma', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'سلمى', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Salma popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 5 since 2012.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #937 | 278 |
| 2020 | #1,048 | 240 |
| 2010 | #884 | 300 |
| 2000 | #673 | 359 |
| 1990 | #3,008 | 38 |
| 1980 | #6,231 | 11 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Salma, counting every spelling?
Salma is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #890 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #937 for Salma on its own. Together these spellings went to 284 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salma | 278 | #937 | 1,484 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Salma?
278 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Salma (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Salma born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 30 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Salma.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Salma?
About 10,200 people born in the US named Salma are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 9 and 24. That makes Salma mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Salma by state
How common Salma was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (4.5×), Illinois (2.1×), Florida (1.9×), Washington (1.9×), New Jersey (1.6×). In 27 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Salma: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Salma, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Salma · Sibling names for Salma
Questions about the name Salma
What does Salma mean?
Salma means “safe, peaceful (Arabic, probable)” (Arabic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Salma?
Salma was the 937th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 278 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 569th with 442 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 134 places. More babies were named Salma in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Salma a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Salma in the US.
Where is Salma most popular?
In 2021–2025, Salma was most common in Minnesota (0.82 per 1,000 girls), followed by Illinois and Florida.