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Home › Baby Names Directory › Saleh

Saleh

♂ Boy

Pronounced SA-lee /ˈsˤaː.liħ/Medium

Meaning: VirtuousMedium

In 30 seconds: Saleh is an Arabic boy's name meaning 'virtuous' or righteous.
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Origin MediumArabic, Indonesian, Azerbaijani
MeaningVirtuous
U.S. rank (2025)#2472 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births55 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,775

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819742025

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

Saleh is an Arabic name meaning 'virtuous', praising upright moral character. It is a long-established name across Arabic-speaking communities. The actor Saleh Bakri is among its modern bearers.

It is closely tied to the spellings Salih and Salihu, which reflect the same Arabic word in different transliterations. The plain, two-syllable shape gives it a clear, dignified sound.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Saleh is 'virtuous', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Saleh — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SalihSalihu

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Saleh Bakri (1977–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Saleh Al-Dawod (1968–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Saleh…

Sami— another Arabic name
Sultan— lands in the same popularity range
Sanad— lands in the same popularity range
Said— lands in the same popularity range
Salman— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Saleh

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By meaningPurity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Saleh mean?

Saleh is usually explained as meaning 'virtuous' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Saleh?

It's commonly said SA-lee /ˈsˤaː.liħ/.

Is Saleh a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Saleh is used as a boy name.

How popular is Saleh?

In 2024, Saleh ranked #1960 in the U.S. for boys, with 80 births recorded.

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