UK girl's name
Saleha
A feminine Arabic name meaning "righteous" or "virtuous".
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.
Saleha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saleha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 18 births.
This profile covers 292 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 290 living people in the UK are called Saleha. 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
- • Saleha ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 18 girls were registered as Saleha.
- • About 290 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saleha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
1998
18 births
Estimated living
290
2026
Meaning
What does Saleha mean?
The name Saleha has its roots in Arabic and Islamic culture, originating from the Arabic word "salih," which means "pious" or "righteous." It is a feminine form of the name, with the masculine counterpart being "Salih."
The name gained prominence during the early days of Islam, as it was associated with virtuous and devout individuals. It is derived from the Arabic root word "sa-la-ha," which means "to be good" or "to be upright." This name has a strong spiritual connotation and is often chosen for its positive meaning.
In Islamic tradition, the name Saleha is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. It is used to describe the virtuous and righteous women who follow the path of God. This association has contributed to the widespread usage of the name among Muslim communities across the world.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Saleha can be found in the 7th century, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the spread of Islam. Saleha bint Khayyat was a prominent woman known for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the preservation of hadith (sayings of the Prophet).
Throughout history, the name Saleha has been borne by several notable individuals, including:
1. Saleha Begum (1768-1824), an Indian princess and the wife of Tipu Sultan, the famous ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. 2. Saleha Mahmoud Aref (1926-2011), an Egyptian author and activist who played a significant role in promoting women's rights in the Arab world. 3. Saleha Kamal (1924-2016), a renowned Pakistani educationist and social worker who dedicated her life to empowering women and improving their access to education. 4. Saleha Moshen (born 1936), a Tunisian writer and novelist, known for her works exploring the lives of women in North African societies. 5. Saleha Chowdhury (born 1944), a Bangladeshi politician and former member of parliament, known for her advocacy of women's rights and social justice.
These are just a few examples of the many remarkable individuals who have carried the name Saleha throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and embodying the virtues associated with the name's meaning.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saleha over time
The chart below shows babies named Saleha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Saleha, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saleha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saleha 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 | #3243 | 37 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2651 | 97 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1982 | 109 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1614 | 49 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Saleha
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Saleha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saleha in the UK right now?
In 2024, Saleha was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Saleha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 18 babies registered as Saleha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saleha?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "righteous" or "virtuous".
How many people are called Saleha in the UK?
A total of 292 babies have been registered as Saleha across the 29 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.