Fun Facts About the Name Salish
- 12 babies named Salish: U.S. records list 12 babies given the name Salish from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Salish Mean?
Salish is an English form of Séliš, the self-designation of the Bitterroot Salish people in their own language, commonly translated as "the people." That translation is a customary rendering of an endonym, not a claim that the English word has a separate root meaning "people."
Linguists use Salish and Salishan for the language family that includes Séliš and related languages of the Pacific Northwest. In that use the term is a family label derived from the people's name; it does not have an independent etymology meaning "language family." The English nickname Flathead, sometimes attached to the same people, is a separate label and not a translation of Séliš.
Salish Name History & Origins
In the 19th century, English-language writers used forms such as Selish and later Salish for the Interior Salish people of what is now Montana and for their language. The people's own name, Séliš, is the source of the English form. The spelling and pronunciation were adapted to English; the usual English pronunciation is SAY-lish.
The term was extended by linguists to the Salishan language family, whose speakers live from British Columbia through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The modern geographic name Salish Sea, used for the waters around Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, comes from the same ethnolinguistic source.
When used as a personal name in English, Salish is a borrowing from this ethnolinguistic term rather than an inherited Salish personal name. It is not a traditional personal name among Salish peoples.
How Popular is the Name Salish?
Salish has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #12,950 in 2025.
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 | #12,950 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #17,195 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Salish 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.
✦ Salish's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Salish's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.