UK girl's name
Salema
A feminine Arabic name meaning "chaste" or "virtuous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Salema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Salema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3174, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1997 to 1997. 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.
Salema is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Salema. 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 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Salema ranked #3174 for girls in England and Wales in 1997, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Salema.
- • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Salema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3174
1997
Births in 1997
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
4
2026
Meaning
What does Salema mean?
The name Salema is believed to have originated from the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "salama," which means "peace" or "safety." The name is often associated with the Islamic faith and has been in use for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Salema can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The name is mentioned in Surah Al-Hashr, verse 23, which reads, "He is Allah, besides whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compelling, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him." In this verse, the name Salema is used as an attribute of Allah, emphasizing the concept of peace and safety.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Salema. One of the earliest recorded persons with this name was Salema bint Amr, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century. She was known for her piety and devotion to Islam.
In the 13th century, Salema bint al-Hajj al-Andalusi was a renowned poet and scholar from Andalusia, the region comprising modern-day Spain and Portugal. Her works have been widely praised for their literary merit and their exploration of themes related to love, spirituality, and the human condition.
Another notable figure was Salema Musa Ikengah, a Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who lived from 1910 to 1995. She played a crucial role in establishing educational opportunities for girls in her home country and was a strong advocate for gender equality.
In the 20th century, Salema Karim was a prominent Bangladeshi artist and painter who lived from 1934 to 2022. Her works often depicted the rural landscapes and people of Bangladesh, and she was recognized for her contributions to the development of modern Bangladeshi art.
Lastly, Salema Mastor was a Malaysian lawyer and human rights activist who lived from 1956 to 2022. She was a tireless advocate for civil liberties and played a significant role in promoting democratic values and human rights in Malaysia.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Salema, each making their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Salema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Salema 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Salema
- 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
Salema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Salema in the UK right now?
In 1997, Salema was ranked #3174 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Salema most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Salema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Salema?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "chaste" or "virtuous".
How many people are called Salema in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Salema across the 1 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.