girl's name
Salma
SAL-mah (English)
- Origin Arabic
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (France)
- Births on record 25,552
France
#303
2025 births
Salma is a girl's name with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 278 babies in the United States, ranking #937. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in France.
- Salma is a name of Arabic origin.
- Peaked in France in 2003, when 520 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 3,275 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1962.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Salma Over Time
Births per decade in France, 1960s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 25 |
| 1970s | 105 |
| 1980s | 245 |
| 1990s | 570 |
| 2000s | 4,120 |
| 2010s | 3,905 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,355 |
How Popular Is Salma?
In 2025, Salma was given to 180 babies in France, ranking #303 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in France.
Where Salma Is Used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Salma
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Salma Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Salma over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Salma
- English SAL-mah
Salma in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Salma
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Salma — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Salma
How popular is the name Salma?
In 2025, Salma was given to 180 babies in France, ranking #303 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in France.
Is Salma a girl's or a boy's name?
Salma is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Salma?
Salma has 2 syllables.
When was Salma most popular?
Salma peaked in 2003, when 520 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Salma a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Salma currently ranks #303 in France. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.