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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Salem — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Saleigha|Salena
Hebrew◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl→ Stable

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Salem

◈

SAY-ləm · 2 syllables

Share Salem:
Compare with another name
Girl
#430
→ Stable
Girl
#430
Popularity score: 39
→ Stable
Peak
#417 in 2023
5yr
-13 ranks
Velocity
-13
Birth frequency
2.0 per 10,000 births
Boy
#634
Popularity score: 35
→ Stable
Peak
#630 in 2023
5yr
-4 ranks
Velocity
-4
Birth frequency
1.2 per 10,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #634 · Rising since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Hebrew boy names
Salem

Popularity score: 35  ·  SSA Rank: #634

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #430 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Hebrew girl names
Salem

Popularity score: 39  ·  SSA Rank: #430

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
65
Higher than 65% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
-13 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
85
1 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Salem scores well on uniqueness but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
77
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
85
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
HebrewUnisex2-syllableMeaningfulPeaceReligiousClassic
Character
peaceful disposition
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Salems

introspectivecreativeauthenticindependentexpressive
STRONG
High confidence

Salem is a Hebrew unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #430 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · -13 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#634 · rare
Salem at a Glance
Meaning:Peace. Derived from the Hebrew word 'shalom,' conveying wholeness, completeness, and tranquility.
Language root:Hebrew · Shalom
Peak rank:#417 in 2023
5yr change:-13 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #430 · Boy #634
Notable bearers
Salem bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Saudi Arabian prince and businessman
Salem Rogers
American musician and composer
Similar Sound
SelimSilas◈Shiloh◈Salam◈Soren◈
Similar Style
Silas◈Ezra◈JonahRoan◈Stellan◈
Works well with
Shiloh◈IrisNoahOlive◈Everett◈IvyMiles◈Eden◈
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Naomi
Hebrew · #44
→ Stable
Delilah
Hebrew · #50
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Salem illustration
Name Intelligence
Salem · Overview
Summary

Salem is a Hebrew unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #430 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Salem scores 65/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Meaningful · Classic character
Salem carries a warm, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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