UK girl's name
Selam
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "peace" or "well-being".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Selam is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Selam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2011. 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 10 living people in the UK are called Selam. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Selam ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 girls were registered as Selam.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Selam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Selam mean?
The name Selam is believed to have originated from the Amharic language of Ethiopia. Amharic is a Semitic language that is the official language of Ethiopia and is also spoken in parts of Eritrea and Israel.
Selam is derived from the Amharic word "selam" which means peace, harmony, or greeting. The name is often given with the intention of wishing peace and tranquility upon the child. It is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls in the Ethiopian culture.
The earliest known record of the name Selam dates back to the 14th century in the Kebre Negest, which is an ancient text that details the history of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia. The text mentions a figure named Selam, though it is unclear if this was a given name or a title.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Selam was Selam Aregawi, an Ethiopian noble and military leader who lived in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the conflict between the Ethiopian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Another notable figure was Selam Awassa, an Ethiopian military commander who lived in the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the wars between the Ethiopian Empire and the Kingdom of Shewa.
In more recent history, Selam Mussere was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1993. She was also the first woman to hold this position in Ethiopia.
Selam Gebru is an Ethiopian-American computer scientist and researcher in the field of artificial intelligence. She is known for her work on algorithmic bias and ethical AI, and has been recognized for her contributions to the field.
Selam Teshome is an Ethiopian entrepreneur and businesswoman who founded the successful company Selam Foods, which produces and distributes traditional Ethiopian food products. She is recognized as a pioneer in the Ethiopian food industry.
While the name Selam has its roots in the Amharic language and Ethiopian culture, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world due to its peaceful and harmonious meaning. However, its historical and cultural significance remains deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Ethiopia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Selam over time
The chart below shows babies named Selam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Selam, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Selam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Selam 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 | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5201 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Selam
- 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
Selam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Selam in the UK right now?
In 2011, Selam was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Selam most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Selam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Selam?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "peace" or "well-being".
How many people are called Selam in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Selam across the 3 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.