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Salem Unisex

Popularity: #384 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationSAY-lum / /ˈseɪ.ləm/

Hebrew; Arabic

Meaning

Hebrew: peace; Arabic: safe

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Salem has roots in both Hebrew and Arabic cultures. In Hebrew, it is often associated with the concept of peace, deriving from the word 'shalom.' In Arabic, it signifies safety and security. The name is also linked to the historical city of Salem, which is mentioned in biblical texts. It has gained popularity in various cultures and is used for both genders, though it is more commonly given to girls in recent years.

Trend Summary

Salem has seen a gradual increase in popularity for girls in the United States over the past few decades.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Salemah
  • Salima

International Variants

  • Salem (Arabic)
  • Salem (Hebrew)

Famous people named Salem

Fictional characters named Salem

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Salem was first seen in the United States in 1976. Salem has ranked as high as #720 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Texas, California, Ohio, and Tennessee. In the past 5 years the name Salem has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Salem (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 77
12%
NC 60
9%
CA 50
8%
OH 35
5%
TN 32
5%
FL 29
4%
IN 27
4%
KY 26
4%
OK 26
4%
GA 23
4%
UT 20
3%
IL 19
3%
NY 18
3%
PA 18
3%
MO 15
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
19769
19779
19788
19798
19809
19827
198310
198412
19858
198610
198711
198811
198910
199010
199110
199215
199310
199417
199520
199621
199733
199839
199941
200038
200152
200256
200344
200451
200557
200654
200756
200865
200982
201067
201165
201285
201391
2014144
2015162
2016188
2017204
2018257
2019377
2020479
2021614
2022699
2023734
2024715