Salem
Salem is a girl's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
Peace, complete, safe, sound.
Origin and history
Salem originates from a Semitic root meaning 'peace' or 'safe', closely related to the Arabic word 'salam'. While historically rooted as a place name and masculine given name, it has surged in recent years in the United States as a trendy gender-neutral option for girls. Its usage is strongly influenced by its literary and historic association with Salem, Massachusetts.
Popularity in the United States
6,491 babies in the United States have been named Salem since 1880. It ranks #2110 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #460.
States where it is most popular
- NC (12.2 %)
- TX (10.7 %)
- CA (10.1 %)
- OH (5 %)
- TN (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 34 |
| 1980-1990 | 88 |
| 1990-2000 | 216 |
| 2000-2010 | 555 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,641 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,957 |
Fun facts
- Salem is famously known as the location of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts, giving the name a strong historical connection.
- The name has seen a substantial surge in modern usage for baby girls in the United States since the late 2010s.
- The name comes from the ancient Semitic root S-L-M, which is the base for words meaning peace across Hebrew and Arabic.