Salah

♂ Boy

Pronounced sah-LAH /sɑˈlɑ/High

Meaning: Righteousness, goodness, virtue, piety; from Arabic salah — as in Salah al-Din (Saladin), 'righteousness of the faith'High

In 30 seconds: Righteousness itself, and a sultan's name: Salah is Arabic for goodness and piety — the 'Salah' in Salah al-Din, the great Saladin. Footballer Mohamed Salah keeps it gloriously current.

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Origin HighArabic

MeaningRighteousness, goodness, virtue, piety; from Arabic salah — as in Salah al-Din (Saladin), 'righteousness of the faith'

U.S. rank (2025)#3300 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births36 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 990

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Salah comes from Arabic salah, 'righteousness, goodness, virtue, piety'. It is famous in the title Salah al-Din ('righteousness of the faith'), the sultan Saladin, and today through Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah. (Note: the Arabic prayer salat is a separate word.)

In the U.S. it appears in Arab and Muslim families. Rare, righteous at the root, and proudly carried.

Did you know? Saladin — the chivalrous sultan who faced Richard the Lionheart — was Salah al-Din, 'righteousness of the faith'; and today Mo Salah carries the name to football glory.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Salah — etymology

Variations

SalahuddinSaleh

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Mohamed Salah (1992-)
Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liverpool FC and the Egyptian national team
★Salah of Tunisia
Stage name of Salah Eddine Zaouali, Tunisian singer popular in North Africa

If you like Salah…

Saleh— a closely related 'righteous' name

Salim— the 'safe, sound' sister name

Tariq— a fellow Arabic classic

Khalid— another timeless Arabic name

Explore names like Salah

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Salah mean?

Salah is Arabic for 'righteousness, goodness, piety', as in Salah al-Din (Saladin).

How do you pronounce Salah?

It's said sah-LAH /sɑˈlɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Salah a boy or girl name?

Salah is a boy's name.

How popular is Salah?

Salah is a rare name in the U.S.