Saleena
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "noble" or "precious".
Name Census estimates that about 754 living Americans carry the first name Saleena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Saleena today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saleena births was 1996 (37 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saleena. 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.
People living today
754
~ 1 in 454,581 Americans
Peak year
1996
37 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,916
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Saleena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Saleena from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 248 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saleena 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 Saleena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Saleenas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Saleena
The given name Saleena has its origins in Arabic, derived from the word "saleenah," which means "smooth" or "silky." This name gained prominence during the medieval period in the Middle East and North Africa, where Arabic culture and language flourished.
One of the earliest known references to the name Saleena can be found in ancient Arabic poetry, where it was often used as a metaphor to describe the smooth complexion or graceful movements of a beloved. In Islamic literature, the name is mentioned in various texts, including historical accounts and religious scriptures, although it was not commonly associated with any specific figure.
The earliest recorded example of an individual bearing the name Saleena dates back to the 9th century CE. Saleena bint Abi al-Hakam was a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Cordoba, Spain, during the Umayyad Caliphate. Her literary contributions were highly regarded, and she was celebrated for her mastery of Arabic language and poetry.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Saleena. One such figure was Saleena al-Qurashi (1025-1090), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Persia. She was known for her extensive knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the field of Sharia law.
In the 13th century, Saleena al-Dimashqi (1212-1285) was a renowned Syrian physician and philosopher. She is credited with writing several influential treatises on medicine and natural sciences, which were widely studied in the Islamic world and beyond.
During the Ottoman Empire, Saleena Hatun (1480-1530) was a powerful and influential figure. She was the wife of Sultan Selim I and played a crucial role in the political and cultural affairs of the empire, serving as a patron of arts and literature.
In more recent times, Saleena Karamally (1914-2002) was a prominent Indian writer and activist. She was known for her contributions to Urdu literature and her advocacy for women's rights and social justice.
The name Saleena has maintained its presence throughout various cultures and time periods, reflecting its rich history and the diverse individuals who have borne this name. While its popularity may have waxed and waned, the name remains a testament to the enduring influence of Arabic language and culture.
People
Saleena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saleena 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
Saleena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saleena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 754 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saleena 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 454,581 US residents.
Is Saleena a common name?
We classify Saleena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 776 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Saleena most popular?
The single biggest year for Saleena was 1996, when 37 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saleena is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Saleena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Saleena 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.
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.