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At a Glance: Name: Psalm – Meaning: a sacred song or hymn, originally sung to harp accompaniment – Origin: Greek (via Latin psalmus) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: SAHM
Psalm is pronounced SAHM (IPA /ˈsɑːm/), and it traces to the Greek word "psalmos" — a song played to harp-plucking — by way of Latin "psalmus," giving it the meaning "a sacred song or hymn, originally sung to harp accompaniment." You may see it described as a Hebrew word, but that's not quite right: Hebrew is the language of the Bible's Book of Psalms, not of the English word itself, which is Greek in origin. Psalm is used as a name for any gender.
Meaning & Origin of Psalm
Meaning: A sacred song or hymn, originally sung to harp accompaniment.
Origin: Greek (via Latin psalmus).
A common claim: Psalm means 'sacred song' and is a Hebrew word Actually: The word 'psalm' is Greek in origin ('psalmos,' a song played to harp-plucking, via Latin 'psalmus'); Hebrew is the language of the Bible's Book of Psalms, not of the English word itself.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Psalm
Phonetic: SAHM IPA: /ˈsɑːm/
Popularity of Psalm
Psalm ranked #1173 on the Social Security Administration's list in 2024, given to 177 babies that year — and since Social Security data on file for the name runs from 1999 to 2024, that 2024 mark is also its peak rank over the full period.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1999–2024.
Make Psalm Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Psalm, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Psalm mean?
A sacred song or hymn, originally sung to harp accompaniment. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Psalm)
How do you pronounce Psalm?
Psalm is pronounced SAHM (IPA: /ˈsɑːm/).
Is Psalm a popular name right now?
Psalm is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #1173 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1999–2024.)
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