Fun Facts About the Name Salem
- More than 11 thousand babies named Salem: U.S. records list 11,169 babies given the name Salem from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 4,684 boys received the name Salem.
What Does the Name Salem Mean?
Salem is a name with two distinct language traditions behind it. In Hebrew, the place name Shalem (שָׁלֵם) is commonly explained as "peace," though its root sense is closer to "wholeness, completeness, or safety." It appears in Genesis 14:18 as the city of Melchizedek. In Arabic, Salem (سالم) is a masculine given name meaning "safe, sound, healthy, or intact," from the root s-l-m that also gives salaam ("peace"). The Hebrew and Arabic forms are cognate, but they belong to different languages and traditions.
Salem Name History & Origins
The Hebrew place name Shalem appears in Genesis 14:18, where Melchizedek is called king of Shalem, and in Psalm 76:2, where Shalem stands in parallel with Zion. Ancient and later interpreters often identified Shalem with Jerusalem, though the biblical text does not state that equation explicitly. The Greek form Salem appears in the New Testament in Hebrews 7:1 - 2, which retells Melchizedek's meeting with Abraham. Through the Latin Bible and English translations, Salem became familiar in English-speaking countries as a biblical place name.
English colonists in North America gave the name to towns. Salem, Massachusetts, was settled in 1626 and renamed Salem in 1629; it is known for the witchcraft trials of 1692. Salem, Oregon, and many other American towns also took the name. From these place names and from the biblical name, Salem has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries, though it is more common as a place name and surname. In Arabic-speaking communities, Salem is an established masculine given name, separate from the English place-name tradition.
How Popular is the Name Salem?
Salem recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2023. Its best rank was #417 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #436 | 711 | 0.0442% |
| 2024 | #430 | 715 | 0.0443% |
| 2023 | #417 | 734 | 0.0458% |
| 2022 | #449 | 699 | 0.0427% |
| 2021 | #506 | 614 | 0.0374% |
| 2020 | #608 | 479 | 0.0297% |
| 2019 | #749 | 377 | 0.0225% |
| 2018 | #1,013 | 257 | 0.0151% |
| 2017 | #1,196 | 204 | 0.0118% |
| 2016 | #1,285 | 188 | 0.0106% |
| 2015 | #1,433 | 162 | 0.0091% |
| 2014 | #1,524 | 144 | 0.0081% |
| 2013 | #2,103 | 91 | 0.0052% |
| 2012 | #2,228 | 85 | 0.0048% |
| 2011 | #2,720 | 65 | 0.0037% |
| 2010 | #2,688 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 2009 | #2,373 | 82 | 0.0045% |
| 2008 | #2,797 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 2007 | #3,120 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #3,129 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2005 | #2,900 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 2004 | #3,062 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #3,340 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 2002 | #2,739 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 2001 | #2,841 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 2000 | #3,507 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1999 | #3,180 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1998 | #3,212 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1997 | #3,525 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1996 | #4,850 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1995 | #4,983 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #5,652 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #8,561 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #6,237 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #8,464 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #8,373 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #7,906 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #7,022 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #6,682 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #7,010 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #8,143 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #5,810 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #6,602 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #8,985 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #7,261 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #7,871 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #7,483 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #6,750 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #6,472 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #679 | 400 | 0.0234% |
| 2024 | #634 | 440 | 0.0257% |
| 2023 | #630 | 440 | 0.0258% |
| 2022 | #680 | 399 | 0.0229% |
| 2021 | #715 | 364 | 0.0208% |
| 2020 | #808 | 288 | 0.0167% |
| 2019 | #926 | 236 | 0.0132% |
| 2018 | #1,215 | 155 | 0.0085% |
| 2017 | #1,152 | 165 | 0.0089% |
| 2016 | #1,247 | 149 | 0.0079% |
| 2015 | #1,286 | 139 | 0.0073% |
| 2014 | #1,491 | 109 | 0.0057% |
| 2013 | #1,632 | 94 | 0.0050% |
| 2012 | #2,029 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2011 | #2,281 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2010 | #2,051 | 67 | 0.0035% |
| 2009 | #1,796 | 84 | 0.0042% |
| 2008 | #2,501 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 2007 | #2,912 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 2006 | #2,533 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 2005 | #2,745 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 2004 | #2,048 | 59 | 0.0030% |
| 2003 | #2,542 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2002 | #2,628 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #2,558 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2000 | #2,853 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1999 | #2,548 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1998 | #2,915 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #2,436 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1996 | #2,526 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1995 | #2,612 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1994 | #2,672 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1993 | #3,627 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #4,066 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #3,975 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #2,944 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #3,185 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #2,240 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #3,172 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #3,409 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #5,064 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #2,797 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #3,049 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #4,519 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #3,002 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #2,706 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #2,544 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #2,772 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #3,566 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #3,672 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #6,173 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,286 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #3,993 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #3,901 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #3,605 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #3,874 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #3,878 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,527 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #4,528 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1951 | #4,166 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #3,626 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1942 | #3,172 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #3,090 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #3,056 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #3,338 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #3,458 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #4,785 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #4,238 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,813 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #4,860 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,339 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #2,516 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #4,416 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,762 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1912 | #2,848 | 5 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Salem Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Salem's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Salem's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.