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At a Glance: Name: Salem – Meaning: peace, wholeness (from the Hebrew place name for ancient Jerusalem); the Arabic-derived masculine use means 'safe, unharmed' – Origin: Hebrew (feminine use) and Arabic (masculine use, as Salim) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: SAY-lum
Salem is a name you can give to a child of any gender, pronounced SAY-lum. Its roots run through Hebrew, where it comes from the place name for ancient Jerusalem and carries the meaning peace, wholeness, and through Arabic, where the related form Salim is used for boys and means safe, unharmed. It has a free-spirited, independent feel with a bold edge, and reads as a thoroughly modern choice today.
Meaning & Origin of Salem
Meaning: Peace, wholeness (from the hebrew place name for ancient jerusalem); the arabic-derived masculine use means 'safe, unharmed'.
Origin: Hebrew (feminine use) and Arabic (masculine use, as Salim).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Salem
Phonetic: SAY-lum IPA: /ˈseɪləm/
Popularity of Salem
Salem hit its highest point so far at #417 in 2023, given to 734 babies, then eased slightly to #430 in 2024 with 715 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1912–2024.
Make Salem Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Salem, 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 Salem mean?
Peace, wholeness (from the hebrew place name for ancient jerusalem); the arabic-derived masculine use means ‘safe, unharmed’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Salem)
How do you pronounce Salem?
Salem is pronounced SAY-lum (IPA: /ˈseɪləm/).
Is Salem a popular name right now?
Salem is near its all-time peak (#417 in 2023), ranked #430 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)
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