Salem is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #2841 in 2001 with 52 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2023 with 734 births ranking #417. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 147.6%. In 2001, approximately 1 in every 34,626 girls born was named Salem. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Salem is a sleek unisex name often associated with peace. It feels modern, atmospheric, and slightly mysterious.
The name's appeal comes from both its ancient Semitic peace-root associations and its place-name familiarity. In modern use, style and sound are often at least as important as literal etymology.