NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Salimah

A feminine Arabic name meaning "peaceful, safe, unharmed, healthy".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Salimah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Salimah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.

This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1997 to 2016. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Salimah. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Salimah ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Salimah.
  • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Salimah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

4 births

Estimated living

17

2026

Meaning

What does Salimah mean?

The name Salimah has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "salama," which means peace, safety, or security. The name is believed to have emerged during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.

Salimah was a common name among Arab women during the medieval period, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa regions. It was often given to newborn girls as a wish for them to live a life of peace and tranquility.

In Islamic literature, the name Salimah is mentioned in various historical texts and religious scriptures. One notable reference is in the Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad), where a woman named Salimah bint Qays is mentioned as a companion of the Prophet and one of the earliest converts to Islam.

The earliest recorded examples of the name Salimah can be traced back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE, during the early Islamic era. Several women with this name are mentioned in historical records and biographies of that time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable women who bore the name Salimah. One of the most famous was Salimah bint Abu Bakr, the daughter of Abu Bakr, who was one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of Islam after the Prophet's death.

Another prominent figure was Salimah bint Said, a renowned Arab poet and literary figure who lived in the 7th century CE. She was known for her eloquence and her contributions to Arabic literature.

In the 12th century, Salimah bint Ali Al-Sufi was a notable Muslim astronomer and scholar from Persia (modern-day Iran). She made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with developing innovative techniques for observing and mapping the stars.

Salimah bint Ammar Al-Hamdaniyah was a 10th-century Arab poet and literary figure from Syria. She was renowned for her poetry and her participation in literary gatherings and cultural events of her time.

In the 19th century, Salimah Agha was a prominent figure in the Ottoman Empire. She was a highly influential woman who served as the chief harem supervisor (Valide Sultan) during the reign of Sultan Abdulmejid I, and played a significant role in Ottoman politics and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Salimah over time

The chart below shows babies named Salimah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Salimah, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Salimah
01234199720062016

Decades

Salimah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Salimah 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
2010s #5831 6 2
2000s #4232 7 2
1990s #3174 4 1

Related

Names similar to Salimah

FAQ

Salimah: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Salimah was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Salimah most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Salimah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Salimah?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "peaceful, safe, unharmed, healthy".

How many people are called Salimah in the UK?

A total of 17 babies have been registered as Salimah across the 5 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.