Selam
Girl name · African · Ethiopian
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #8,016 in 1998
0 babies were named Selam in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1988–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Selam you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistorySelam first shows up in US birth records in 1988, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 37 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1998, when it reached #8,016.
About the name Selam
Selam is a girl name of African and Ethiopian origin. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-lam”. US birth records list Selam for girls from 1988 to 2024, in 29 of those 37 years. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked #8,016 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2024, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:African namesEthiopian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.7 | 588,235 girls |
| 1990s | 3.0 | 333,333 girls |
| 2000s | 3.6 | 275,482 girls |
| 2010s | 3.4 | 295,858 girls |
| 2020s | 2.3 | 427,350 girls |
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Salma · safe, peaceful
- Girl name: Khadija · premature child
- Girl name: Xolani · peace
Questions about the name Selam
What is the origin of the name Selam?
Selam has African, Ethiopian roots in our records. Other African names include Layla, Aisha, Amber.
Is Selam a boy or girl name?
Selam is a girl name.
How popular is the name Selam?
Selam is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #8,016 in 1998.