Holding steady.
Popularity of Selam since 1988
Babies named Selam per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 54 |
| 2000s | 67 |
| 2010s | 59 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Selam is a name of Amharic origin meaning 'peace,' directly drawn from the everyday greeting used across Ethiopia and Eritrea. First recorded in the United States in 1988, the name has remained a rare choice, never appearing in the top 1000. Its peak year of usage was 1998, with numbers steady enough to be classified as stable over recent decades. Though it saw limited adoption during the 1990s, Selam has not experienced a notable revival. As a name tied closely to Ethiopian culture, it remains an uncommon but meaningful selection for families seeking a straightforward, peaceful meaning.
Selam is an Amharic name directly derived from the word for 'peace.' It is commonly used as a given name in Ethiopia and Eritrea, often as a short form of longer names like Selamawit. The name gained some usage internationally in the late 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sela, Selly
Variants: Selamawit
Sibling names for Selam
Names that share Selam's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Saba, Meklit, Zuri, Liya, Alem, Arsema, Desta, Feven, Mahelet, Mahlet, Melat, Nardos, Soliyana, Tsion, Yemariam, Yohana, Afomia, Bemnet, Emnet, Kalkidan, Maraki, Mariamawit, Winta
Brothers: Yonas, Elias, Henok, Kaleb, Samson, Abenezer, Alazar, Amanuel, Bereket, Dagmawi, Dawit, Ermias, Eyob, Kidus, Kirubel, Leul, Naod, Natnael, Yacob, Yohannes, Biruk, Barkot, Eyoab, Kebron, Mikias, Naol, Nolawi, Surafel, Temesgen
