Saleh
Meaningrighteous, virtuous · Arabic
Saleh is an Arabic boy name meaning “righteous, virtuous”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Saleh and you get Selah. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationSaleh peaked in 2018, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Saleh you'd meet today is about 7 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Saleh would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 31,056 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistorySaleh first shows up in US birth records in 1974, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 51 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Salehs? Head to Michigan, where it's the #905 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1974–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Saleh
Saleh is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “righteous, virtuous”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 2010s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Saleh
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Saleh
What does the name Saleh mean?
Saleh means “righteous, virtuous” and comes from Arabic. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Salih (“righteous, virtuous”), Tadashi (“often correct, righteous”), Kapono (“the righteous one”) and Masato (“often righteous person”).
What is the origin of the name Saleh?
Saleh is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Saleh a boy or girl name?
Saleh is a boy name. In 2025, 55 US boys were named Saleh.
How popular is the name Saleh?
Saleh ranked #2,451 for US boys in 2025, given to 55 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it reached #1,823. Over the last five years it has slipped 261 places.
What names are similar to Saleh?
If you like Saleh, you might also like Sallee, Salih, Tadashi, Kapono and Masato. Sallee is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Saleh?
Saleh is an Arabic boy name meaning “righteous, virtuous”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.