Salih
Meaningrighteous, virtuous · Arabic
Salih 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?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Salih has the name Ali hiding inside it.
- GenerationSalih peaked in 2017, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Salih you'd meet today is about 8 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Salih would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 77,519 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistorySalih first shows up in US birth records in 1973, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 52 years since.
US births per million boys, 1973–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Salih
Salih 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 and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Salih
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 Salih
What does the name Salih mean?
Salih means “righteous, virtuous” and comes from Arabic. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Saleh (“righteous, virtuous”), Tadashi (“often correct, righteous”), Kapono (“the righteous one”) and Masato (“often righteous person”).
What is the origin of the name Salih?
Salih 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 Salih a boy or girl name?
Salih is a boy name. In 2025, 22 US boys were named Salih.
How popular is the name Salih?
Salih ranked #4,539 for US boys in 2025, given to 22 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it reached #3,781. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,757 places.
What names are similar to Salih?
If you like Salih, you might also like Sally, Salli, Saleh, Tadashi and Kapono. Sally is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Salih?
Salih 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.