Salma is a distinctive choice, ranked #622 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Salma in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2025
#622
US Rank #937
Ad
About the Name Salma
Salma is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 172 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #295 in 2003 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Salma is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Salma in their class.
In the US it sits at #870 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
⭐ Famous People Named Salma
Happy Salma — Jero Happy Salma Wanasari, known professionally as Happy Salma, is an Indonesian actress, theater producer and jewelry entrepreneur.
Salma Hassan — Salma Hassan is a Pakistani actress.
Salma Paralluelo — Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsalma θeˈleste paɾaˈʎwelo aʝiŋˈɡono] ; born 13 November 2003) is a Spanish professional footballer and former sprinter who plays as a left winger for Liga F club Barcelona and the Spain national…
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Salma
Unlikely. With around 63 UK babies named Salma per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Salma in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Salma is rising: up 272 places since 2020, to #622 in 2025. Its best recorded position was #295 in 2003.
Salma is more popular in the UK (#722) than in the US (#870). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Salma include: Happy Salma, Salma Hassan and Salma Paralluelo. Short summaries for each appear below.
Salma ranks #870 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
63
UK babies named Salma (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 272 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Salma
Almost certainly the only Salma in the class
Ad
UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2021–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Salma
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsalma θeˈleste paɾaˈʎwelo aʝiŋˈɡono] ; born 13 November 2003) is a Spanish professional footballer and former sprinter who plays as a left winger for Liga F club Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Salma Zahid is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding of Scarborough Centre during the 2015 Canadian federal election.
Salma al-Shehab is a Saudi Arabian student and prisoner of conscience who was sentenced to 27 years in prison by the Specialized Criminal Court in what has been cited as the longest prison sentence ever given to a human rights activist in Saudi Arabia.