How old is someone named Salem?
The average Salem is 9 years old.
Half of all living Salems are between 3 and 11.
When was Salem popular?
Salem is a modern favorite: it climbed through the 2000s and hit its high in 2023. 1,111 babies got the name in 2025.
Popular names of 2023 · The most popular names of the 2020s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 36 | 0 |
| 1920s | 39 | 0 |
| 1930s | 8 | 0 |
| 1940s | 14 | 0 |
| 1950s | 11 | under 100 |
| 1960s | 23 | under 100 |
| 1970s | 131 | 120 |
| 1980s | 247 | 240 |
| 1990s | 471 | 460 |
| 2000s | 1,026 | 1,000 |
| 2010s | 2,881 | 2,900 |
| 2020s | 6,291 | 6,300 |
How many Salems are still alive?
About 11,000 Salems are alive in the US today. That's 98% of the roughly 11,000 babies named Salem since 1912.
Nearly every Salem ever born is still alive, because almost all of them are young.
What generation is the name Salem?
About four in five living Salems are in Gen Alpha, born in 2013 or later.
- Gen X 1%
- Millennial 4%
- Gen Z 15%
- Gen Alpha 79%
Is Salem an old name?
No. Salem is one of the youngest names around: younger than 96 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Salem will be 21 in 2056, so the name is aging slowly.
Is Salem a boy or girl name?
Both. 59% of living Salems are women and 41% are men.
The women average 8 and the men 11.
Names the same age as Salem
NAME TWIN
Salem's name twin is Baylor. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Baylor's age curve is the closest match to Salem's: 92% alike.
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Questions about the name Salem
How old is the average Salem?
The average Salem in the US is 9 years old. The median is 5, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Salem?
About 11,000 Salems are alive in the US today, out of roughly 11,000 babies given the name since 1912.
When was the name Salem most popular?
In 2023, when about 1,200 baby girls were named Salem.
Is Salem a Gen Alpha name?
Yes. About 79% of living Salems are in Gen Alpha, born in 2013 or later.
Is Salem a boy or girl name?
Both. 59% of living Salems are women and 41% are men. The women average 8 and the men 11.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this