NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Salman

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "the bringer of 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.

Salman is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Salman popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1235, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 62 births.

This profile covers 1,173 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 35% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,182 living people in the UK are called Salman. 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

  • Salman ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 62 boys were registered as Salman.
  • Salman ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
  • About 1,182 living people in the UK are estimated to have Salman as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1235

2024

Births in 2024

22

Latest year

Peak year

2015

62 births

Estimated living

1,182

2026

Meaning

What does Salman mean?

The name Salman is derived from the Arabic word "salama" which means peace, safety, or security. It has its origins in the ancient Arabic culture and language, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 7th century CE.

One of the earliest and most notable individuals to bear this name was Salman the Persian, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He was born in Persia in the late 6th century and later embraced Islam, becoming one of the most revered figures in Islamic history.

The name Salman also appears in various Islamic texts and scriptures, including the Quran and Hadith. It is believed to have been a popular name among early Muslim communities, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Salman who have made significant contributions in various fields. One such figure was Salman al-Farisi, a Persian scholar and mathematician who lived in the 9th century CE. He is credited with introducing several mathematical concepts, including the concept of algebraic equations.

Another prominent figure was Salman the Magnificent, the 10th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who ruled from 1520 to 1566 CE. During his reign, the Ottoman Empire reached its peak, with significant territorial expansions and cultural achievements.

In the modern era, Salman Rushdie, the Indian-British novelist, is perhaps one of the most well-known individuals with this name. He was born in 1947 and gained global recognition for his works, including the controversial novel "The Satanic Verses," which led to death threats from extremist groups.

Salman Khan, an Indian actor and philanthropist born in 1965, is another notable figure with this name. He is one of the most popular and influential actors in the Indian film industry and is also known for his humanitarian efforts through his non-profit organization, Being Human.

Lastly, Salman Masood, a Pakistani journalist and author born in 1971, has made significant contributions to the field of journalism. He has covered various conflicts and political events in South Asia and has written extensively on the region's history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Salman over time

The chart below shows babies named Salman 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 Salman, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 62 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Salman
016314762199620102024

Decades

Salman by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Salman 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 #978 154 5
2010s #770 432 10
2000s #591 431 10
1990s #497 156 4

Geography

Where Salman is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Salman. 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.

Salman ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Salman in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

5 years of NRS records, 18 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Salman

  • Salman Abedi

    terrorist

    British terrorist (1994–2017)

    1994-2017

  • Salman Khan

    actor; television producer; singer; television presenter; film producer; voice actor; television actor; film actor

    Indian actor and producer (born 1965)

    1965-

  • Salman Rushdie

    screenwriter; actor; writer; author; children's writer; novelist; essayist

    Indian-born British-American novelist (born 1947)

    1947-

Related

Names similar to Salman

FAQ

Salman: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Salman was ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.

When was Salman most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 62 babies registered as Salman in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Salman?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "the bringer of peace".

How many people are called Salman in the UK?

A total of 1,173 babies have been registered as Salman across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 18 more in Scotland.

Where is Salman most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Salman ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. 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.