Salih

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAH-lih /ˈsɑ.lɪh/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic salih, 'righteous, virtuous, good, pious' — a prophet in the QuranHigh

In 30 seconds: Righteous and good: Salih is Arabic for 'virtuous, pious' — a prophet of the Quran. Devout, dignified, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighArabic

MeaningFrom Arabic salih, 'righteous, virtuous, good, pious' — a prophet in the Quran

U.S. rank (2025)#4678 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births22 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 587

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

Salih comes from Arabic salih, 'righteous, virtuous, good, pious' — borne by the prophet Salih in the Quran. A devout, dignified name across the Muslim world.

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

Did you know? Salih means 'righteous, virtuous, good' in Arabic — borne by the prophet Salih, sent to the people of Thamud; a devout, honored name.

Overall data confidence 82%

Arabic references — salih — etymology

Variations

SalehSalah

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

★Salih Muslim (1951-)
Kurdish politician and co-chair of the Democratic Union Party in Syria
★Salih Bozok (1881-1941)
Turkish military officer and close aide to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

If you like Salih…

Saleh— a fellow spelling

Salah— a companion Sal- name

Tariq— another prophet/classic name

Yusuf— a fellow Quranic name

Explore names like Salih

By themearabic virtue islamic

By meaningPurity

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Salih mean?

Salih is Arabic for 'righteous, virtuous, good, pious' (a prophet of the Quran).

How do you pronounce Salih?

It's said SAH-lih /ˈsɑ.lɪh/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Salih a boy or girl name?

Salih is a boy's name.

How popular is Salih?

Salih is a rare name in the U.S.