Salma Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Salma is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Salma?
Salma is spelled S-A-L-M-A. The name has 5 letters.
Salma at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Salma means “peaceful” or “safe” in Arabic.
- Origin
- Salma is a name commonly associated with Arabic-speaking cultures and may derive from the Arabic root word related to peace or safety.
- Pronunciation
- SAL-mah · 2 syllables
Salma Popularity in 2025
Rank#936
Recorded Births278
- Girls usage fell 65 places to #936 and recorded 32 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Salma Mean?
Salma means “peaceful” or “safe” in Arabic.
Origin: Salma is a name commonly associated with Arabic-speaking cultures and may derive from the Arabic root word related to peace or safety.
How Do You Pronounce Salma?
PronunciationSAL-mah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Salma?
- History
- Salma has been used historically in various Arabic-speaking regions and is found in cultural and literary sources within those communities.
Salma Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 278 | #936 |
| 2024 | Girls | 310 | #871 |
| 2023 | Girls | 295 | #905 |
| 2022 | Girls | 311 | #895 |
| 2021 | Girls | 290 | #919 |
| 2020 | Girls | 240 | #1,046 |
| 2019 | Girls | 289 | #916 |
| 2018 | Girls | 340 | #801 |
| 2017 | Girls | 362 | #765 |
| 2016 | Girls | 385 | #738 |
| 2015 | Girls | 351 | #802 |
| 2014 | Girls | 309 | #883 |
| 2013 | Girls | 324 | #825 |
| 2012 | Girls | 348 | #785 |
| 2012 | Boys | 5 | #12,274 |
| 2011 | Girls | 313 | #842 |
| 2010 | Girls | 300 | #883 |
| 2009 | Girls | 360 | #784 |
| 2008 | Girls | 332 | #848 |
| 2007 | Girls | 349 | #822 |
| 2006 | Girls | 362 | #758 |
| 2005 | Girls | 358 | #749 |
| 2004 | Girls | 309 | #812 |
| 2003 | Girls | 377 | #692 |
When Was Salma Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1999 · Girls
442 recorded births
National rank #569
1998 · Girls
430 recorded births
National rank #570
2016 · Girls
385 recorded births
National rank #738
2003 · Girls
377 recorded births
National rank #692
Where Salma Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MN | #285 | 19 |
| MD | #459 | 11 |
| FL | #482 | 38 |
| WA | #617 | 10 |
| MA | #624 | 8 |
| TX | #649 | 47 |
| IL | #667 | 14 |
| NJ | #667 | 11 |