Salana
A feminine name of Chamorro origin meaning "to bathe in saltwater".
Name Census estimates that about 29 living Americans carry the first name Salana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Salana today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Salana births was 2022 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Salana. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Salana. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
29
~ 1 in 11,819,115 Americans
Peak year
2022
7 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,182
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Salana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Salana from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 14 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Salana by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Salana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Salana
The name Salana originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. The word "salana" in Sanskrit means "abode" or "dwelling place," suggesting a connection to home, shelter, or a sense of belonging.
In Hindu mythology, the name Salana is sometimes associated with the concept of a sacred or divine abode, often referring to temples or places of worship. Some scholars trace the name's origins to ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas or the Puranas, where it may have been used to describe the dwelling places of deities or spiritual beings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Salana can be found in the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The name appears as a minor character, though the specific details surrounding its usage are not widely documented.
Throughout history, the name Salana has been borne by several notable individuals, though its popularity has varied across different regions and time periods. One notable figure was Salana Devi, a 16th-century queen and warrior from the Bundelkhand region of central India. She is celebrated for her bravery and leadership during the turbulent times of the Mughal Empire.
Another historical figure with the name Salana was a 12th-century Hindu philosopher and scholar from the Nath tradition. Known as Salana Nath, he was renowned for his contributions to the study of Yoga and Tantra, and his teachings influenced many spiritual seekers of his time.
In the realm of literature, Salana was the name of a 9th-century Sanskrit poet and playwright who authored several works, including the play "Nagananda," which explored themes of love, devotion, and spiritual enlightenment.
Moving forward in time, Salana Raghavan was a prominent Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived in the 20th century (1891-1968). She played a significant role in reviving and preserving the ancient dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, earning her widespread recognition and numerous accolades.
Another notable figure was Salana Khuda Bakhsh (1884-1960), a renowned Pakistani historian and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Indo-Persian history and literature. His extensive research and writings shed light on the cultural and intellectual exchanges between the Indian subcontinent and the Persian world.
While the name Salana has maintained a presence throughout history, its usage and popularity have ebbed and flowed across different regions and cultures, reflecting the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural diversity that has shaped its meaning and significance over time.
People
Salana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Salana as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Salana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Salana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 29 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Salana going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 11,819,115 US residents.
Is Salana a common name?
We classify Salana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Salana most popular?
The single biggest year for Salana was 2022, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Salana is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Salana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Salana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Salana in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Salana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Salana in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Salana can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Salana?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.