Salem

SAIL-em or sah-LEM

Biblical place-name or Arabic

"safe"

Salem Origin and Meaning

The name Salem is a girl's name meaning "safe".

Salem is a biblical place-name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem. Americans may be more familiar with Salem as the name of the Massachusetts town famous for its witch trials in the late 1600s. It's also a popular Arabic name widely-used for both genders.

In the US, the name probably is chosen for its Biblical connection more often for girls, who make up more than half the babies named Salem. On the boys' side, the alternate Arabic version Salim is used about a third of the time, while for girls the feminine Arabic versions of the name Salima and Salimah, are also found.

The Salem cigarette brand folded in 2019, removing that negative association for the next generation.

Salem Rank in US Top 1000

# 453 in the US

Salem Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 946 on Nameberry

Salem Popularity

• 453 US 2022
• 946 Nameberry 2024
• 16 Unique 2018
• 68 Unisex 2022
• 780 Future 2028
• 68 Cats 2022

20 Names Similar to Salem

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Salem.

• Salem
• Storm
• October
• Sunny
• Saylor
• Moon
• Tatum
• Sailor
• Sable
• Circe
• Gypsy
• September
• Everest
• Ocean
• Poet
• Soleil
• Phoenix
• Winter
• Poe
• Nyx

Famous People Named Salem

• Salem Ilese Singer

Salem in Pop Culture

• Salem another name for Jerusalem (Ps. 76:2)
• Salem character from the web series RWBY
• Salem an American supernatural television series