Salma is a distinctive choice, ranked #722 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Salma in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#722
US Rank #870
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 distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #870 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Salma
Unlikely. With around 52 UK babies named Salma per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Salma in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Salma is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 172 places over the last five years to #722 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
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 — 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....
Salma ranks #870 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
52
UK babies named Salma (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 172 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
Likely around 1 other Salma in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
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
Jero Happy Salma Wanasari, known professionally as Happy Salma, is an Indonesian actress, theater producer and jewelry entrepreneur. In 2020, Tatler Asia named her as one of the most influential figures in Asia.
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. She is the first ever player to have won all three World Cups, having won the 2023 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and 2018 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Salmabegum Lakhani is the 19th lieutenant governor of Alberta. Her appointment as lieutenant governor became effective upon the swearing of the oath of allegiance and oath of office on August 26, 2020.
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. She succeeded the Conservative Roxanne James.
Ommasalma Shah is a British political commentator and consultant known professionally as Salma Shah. She worked as special adviser to former Tory Home Secretary Sajid Javid for five years covering four different departments.
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. While al-Shehab's initial six-year sentence received relatively little press, her resentencing in August 2022 received international attention and led to criticism of the Saudi Arabian government.