The first name Salma

In 2025, 63 girls were named Salma, making it the 622nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 142 births (#319).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Salma with other names.

In 2025, 278 girls born in the United States were named Salma, the 937th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1999, when 442 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Salma Agha
  Actress, singer, born 1956
• Salma Khatun
  Bangladeshi woman cricketer, born 1990
• Salma Khalil Alio
  Chadian writer and artist, born 1982
• Salma Sobhan
  Bangladeshi lawyer and sister of Princess Sarvath Al Hassan, 1937–2003
• Salma Akter
  Bangladeshi singer, born 1991
• Salma Yaqoob
  British politician (born 1971)

• Layla
• Aaliyah
• Lyla
• Maryam
• Fatima
• Aisha
• Leila
• Laila
• Amira
• Zahra
• Amina
• Lila
• Aliyah
• Khadija
• Yasmin
• Ayesha

All 218 names of Arabic origin

What does the name Salma mean?

Borrowed from Arabic سَلْمَى (salmā).

What is the origin of the name Salma?

Borrowed from Arabic سَلْمَى (salmā).

How popular is the name Salma?

In 2025, 63 girls born in England and Wales were named Salma, ranking 622nd. Its peak was 2007, with 142 births.

Is Salma a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 10,316 US babies named Salma since 1880 were girls.

When was Salma most popular?

1999 in the United States, when 442 babies were named Salma, its highest rank at 569th.