UK girl's name
Salma
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "safety" or "peace".
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.
Salma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Salma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #722, with 52 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 142 births.
This profile covers 2,652 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 37% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,700 living people in the UK are called Salma. 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
- • Salma ranked #722 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 52 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 142 girls were registered as Salma.
- • Salma ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
- • About 2,700 living people in the UK are estimated to have Salma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#722
2024
Births in 2024
52
Latest year
Peak year
2007
142 births
Estimated living
2,700
2026
Meaning
What does Salma mean?
The name Salma has its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "salam," which means peace, safety, or well-being. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Salma can be found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In the Quran, Salma is mentioned as the name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad. This association with a prominent figure in Islamic history has contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Muslims.
The name Salma gained widespread recognition and use across the Middle East and North Africa during the medieval Islamic period. Historical records show that several notable figures bore this name, including Salma bint Malik, a 7th-century Arab woman known for her poetry and wisdom.
In the 12th century, Salma al-Mursiya, a renowned Andalusian poet and scholar, achieved fame for her literary works and contributions to the intellectual culture of Muslim Spain. Her legacy has helped to further popularize the name in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Salma was Salma Umm al-Mu'minin, the mother of the fourth Caliph of Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. She played a significant role in the early Islamic community and is revered for her piety and devotion.
Throughout history, the name Salma has been carried by various influential individuals across different fields. For example, Salma Hayek, born in 1966, is a renowned Mexican-American actress, producer, and activist who has been recognized for her work in films such as "Frida" and "Desperado."
Salma Mumin, born in 1975, is a British writer and activist known for her work on issues related to race, gender, and social justice. She has authored several books, including "Miss Tylene & Her Muslim Advice Columnist Friends."
Salma Jehamu Hayat, born in 1936, was a Pakistani jurist and the first woman to be appointed as a judge in Pakistan's superior judiciary. She served as a judge on the Lahore High Court and made significant contributions to the legal system and women's rights in Pakistan.
Salma Khadra Jayyusi, born in 1926, was a renowned Palestinian academic, poet, and literary critic. She played a significant role in preserving and promoting Arab literature and culture, and her works have been widely acclaimed and translated into multiple languages.
Salma Hayek, Salma Mumin, Salma Jehamu Hayat, and Salma Khadra Jayyusi are just a few examples of the many remarkable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Salma. This name, with its deep-rooted cultural significance and association with peace and well-being, continues to be popular across various regions and communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Salma over time
The chart below shows babies named Salma 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 Salma, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 52 births in 2024, compared with 142 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Salma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Salma 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 | #771 | 240 | 5 |
| 2010s | #492 | 908 | 10 |
| 2000s | #345 | 1,167 | 10 |
| 1990s | #387 | 337 | 4 |
Geography
Where Salma is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Salma. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Salma ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
Across the UK
Salma in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
17 years of NRS records, 63 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Salma
-
Salma Yaqoob
politician
British politician (born 1971)
1971-
-
Salma Zahid
politician; community organizer; high civil servant
Canadian politician
1970-
-
Salma Agha
actor; singer; film actor
actress, singer
1956-
-
Salma Samar Damluji
architect; writer; university teacher
Iraqi British architect, professor and author
1954-
-
Salma Sobhan
barrister
Bangladeshi lawyer and sister of Princess Sarvath Al Hassan
1937-2003
-
Salma Siraj
journalist
British television presenter
Related
Names similar to Salma
- 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
Salma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Salma in the UK right now?
In 2024, Salma was ranked #722 for girls in England and Wales, with 52 births registered.
When was Salma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 142 babies registered as Salma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Salma?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "safety" or "peace".
How many people are called Salma in the UK?
A total of 2,652 babies have been registered as Salma across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 63 more in Scotland.
Where is Salma most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Salma ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #790 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.