Salma

Meaning of Salma

Salma glides off the tongue with an easy SAHL-mah, carrying a passport stamped in both Arabic and Spanish. From the Arabic root s-l-m—the same family that gifts us “salaam”—Salma means “peaceful, safe, unharmed,” a gentle promise every parent loves to whisper over a crib. Spanish speakers adopted the name centuries ago, and today it dances between cultures thanks to luminaries like Mexican-Lebanese actress Salma Hayek, whose red-carpet sparkle keeps the name in the spotlight without making it feel overplayed. In the United States, Salma has hovered in that sweet spot around the 600 mark for the past two decades: common enough that teachers can pronounce it, rare enough that your little peacemaker won’t share it with half the playground. A short, melodic, two-syllable charmer, Salma offers parents a global vibe, a built-in message of tranquility, and just the right dash of star power—proof that sometimes the quietest names make the most lasting impression.