Rising since 1990, #3,240 for boys today.
Popularity of Salah since 1972
Babies named Salah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 22 |
| 1980s | 0 | 95 |
| 1990s | 0 | 122 |
| 2000s | 49 | 246 |
| 2010s | 27 | 313 |
| 2020s | 119 | 192 |
Meaning & origin
The name Salah has been recorded in the United States since 1972, reflecting its steady presence among families of Arabic-speaking and Muslim heritage. In 2025, it ranked 3,240, meaning roughly 1 in 47,447 newborns received the name. Its popularity peaked in 2019, and the name has been on a rising trajectory since 1990, particularly in states with diverse populations like New York. Despite its relatively modest ranking, Salah carries deep cultural and religious resonance, tied to the Islamic concept of prayer and moral uprightness. Its usage reflects both a connection to tradition and a growing visibility in multicultural naming landscapes.
Salah is derived from the Arabic root ṣ-l-ḥ, conveying concepts of righteousness, goodness, and reform. It is also the name of the second of the five daily prayers in Islam, often spelled salat. The name has been used across the Arabic-speaking world and among Muslim communities for centuries.
Where Salah is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Salah” around the world
Where Salah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Salah
Names that share Salah's style, for a brother or sister.
