Salima: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,785

among girls · ↓663 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Salima · -15% vs 2024

How common

1 in 94,545

girls born in 2025

Peak year

2018

22 babies

All-time total

598

#10,578 all-time among girls

First recorded

1969

in Social Security records

Salima popularity over time

598 babies have been named Salima since 1969, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	6	1	–	#7,271
1970s	91	9	+1417%	#3,503
1980s	91	9	0%	#5,260
1990s	89	9	-2%	#7,206
2000s	104	10	+17%	#6,742
2010s	125	13	+20%	#5,757
2020s (to 2025)	92	15	+23%	#6,122

The story of Salima

Salima is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,785 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1969, 598 American babies have been named Salima. Its peak came in 2018, when 22 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Salima stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Salima?

The median living Salima is about 24 years old; half are between 10 and 38. An estimated 600 people named Salima are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Salima year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	17	#6,785
2024	20	#6,122
2023	18	#6,629
2022	12	#8,961
2021	14	#7,962
2020	11	#9,439
2019	10	#10,342
2018	22	#5,757
2017	15	#7,777
2016	8	#12,696
2015	14	#8,360
2014	10	#10,806
2013	16	#7,691
2012	12	#9,613
2011	6	#16,415
2010	12	#9,692
2009	14	#8,802
2008	10	#11,448
2007	7	#15,173
2006	14	#8,634
2005	15	#7,831
2004	–	–
2003	11	#9,570
2002	7	#13,351
2001	10	#9,956
2000	16	#6,742
1995	7	#11,511
1990	12	#7,206
1985	8	#8,145
1980	13	#5,477
1975	9	#6,341
1970	5	#9,028
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Salima

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Salima Ghezali Algerian journalist and writer (born 1958) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Salima, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Salima?

The median living Salima is about 24 years old. Half of all living Salimas are between 10 and 38 years old.

How many people named Salima are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Salima are alive in the United States, based on 598 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Salima in 2025?

Salima ranked #6,785 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Salima?

598 babies have been named Salima in the United States since 1969, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Salima most popular?

Salima peaked in 2018, when 22 newborns received the name.

Is Salima a boy or girl name?

Salima is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Salima rising or falling?

Salima is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Salima?

Well-known people named Salima include Salima Ghezali (journalist).

Names like Salima

Names that sound and feel close to Salima: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Salima with similar names → More names starting with S →