Holding steady, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Suleika since 1988
Babies named Suleika per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 12 |
| 1990s | 56 |
| 2000s | 53 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 18 |
Meaning & origin
Suleika is a rare Arabic feminine name that has seen modest but steady usage in the United States since it first appeared on record in 1988. Its peak popularity came in 2008, though it remains an uncommon choice. The name's trajectory has been stable, never experiencing a rapid rise or decline. Suleika is most likely chosen by families with Arabic heritage or those drawn to its literary and cross-cultural resonance, notably through Goethe's poetry. While not among the top names by state, its low frequency gives it a distinctive appeal for parents seeking a name with depth and a melodic sound.
Suleika is an Arabic name derived from the root s-l-y, which conveys comfort or solace. It is perhaps best known through its appearance in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem cycle "West-östlicher Divan" (1819), where the character Suleika was inspired by the Persian poet Hafez. The name has been used in the German-speaking world and beyond as a literary borrowing, and remains in occasional use among Arabic-speaking and Muslim families.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Suleika
Sibling names for Suleika
Names that share Suleika's style, for a brother or sister.
