Salem
How to say it: SAY-lum · /ˈseɪləm/
From Semitic 'shalom/salam' meaning 'peace'; name of a biblical city and several US place names.
Salem was the 439th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,111 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 3.6-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #247 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #439 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 1,111 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,984 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×3.6 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #247 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,221 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Soft gains have brought Salem to its best period in the 2020s. At its peak today, more rise is expected.
What goes with it
Pronounced SAY lum, Salem sounds soft and breathy with the character of a place name. Zion would pair well in style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Salem is about 1 in 125.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Hebrew.
In France: #2,221 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Salem
- Salem Al-Dawsari (born 1991)Saudi footballer
- Salem Al-Hajri (born 1996)Association football player
- Salem Ilese (born 1999)American singer-songwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- 1692 witch trials: 200+ accused in colonial Massachusetts
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