NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Saaliha

A feminine Arabic name meaning "righteous" or "virtuous woman.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Saaliha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saaliha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 12 births.

This profile covers 155 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 154 living people in the UK are called Saaliha. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Saaliha ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 12 girls were registered as Saaliha.
  • About 154 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saaliha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2016

12 births

Estimated living

154

2026

Meaning

What does Saaliha mean?

The name Saaliha is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "salih" which means "pious" or "righteous" in the Arabic language. This name has been in use since ancient times in the Middle Eastern region, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula.

The earliest recorded use of the name Saaliha can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is believed that some of the companions of the Prophet, known as the Sahabah, bore this name, indicating its significance in the early Islamic era.

In Islamic literature, the name Saaliha is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. It is used as a descriptive term for those who exhibit righteous behavior and follow the path of God. This association with piety and righteousness has contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Muslim communities worldwide.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Saaliha was Saaliha bint Husayn al-Ansari, a prominent female scholar and jurist who lived in the 8th century CE. She was renowned for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the preservation of Islamic traditions.

Another notable figure was Saaliha al-Basriyya, a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 9th century CE. She was known for her profound spiritual insights and her teachings on the path of self-purification and devotion to God.

In the 12th century, Saaliha of Maraviroc, a Spanish Muslim princess, played a significant role in the defense of the city of Valencia against Christian forces during the Reconquista period.

Saaliha Khatun, a prominent figure in the 13th century, was the wife of the Mamluk Sultan Baybars I of Egypt. She was known for her influential role in the political and cultural affairs of the Mamluk Sultanate.

Another notable figure was Saaliha Umm al-Banin, a 16th-century Ottoman calligrapher and poet. She was renowned for her mastery of the art of calligraphy and her contribution to the literary and artistic traditions of the Ottoman Empire.

Throughout history, the name Saaliha has been associated with individuals who have embodied the qualities of piety, righteousness, and spiritual devotion. Its enduring popularity across various cultures and regions reflects the universal appeal of these virtues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Saaliha over time

The chart below shows babies named Saaliha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Saaliha, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Saaliha
036912199920112024

Decades

Saaliha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saaliha was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3524 26 4
2010s #3108 81 10
2000s #3544 43 8
1990s #2770 5 1

Related

Names similar to Saaliha

FAQ

Saaliha: questions and answers

How popular is the name Saaliha in the UK right now?

In 2024, Saaliha was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Saaliha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 12 babies registered as Saaliha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Saaliha?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "righteous" or "virtuous woman.".

How many people are called Saaliha in the UK?

A total of 155 babies have been registered as Saaliha across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.