Selim
Boy name · #2626 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
Selim ranks #2626 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 50 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2328, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,000 boys born in 2025 was named Selim.
Babies named Selim per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 54-year story
Selim first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 78 boys were named Selim — good for #1871 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Selim against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Selim in class?
Selim scores 74 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Selim will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Selim is most common
Geography matters for names, and Selim is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Selims were TX (9), CA (8), NY (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Selim
Statistically, parents drawn to Selim tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Salim, Tamim, Taim, Alim, and Slate.
SalimTamimTaimAlimSlateSabirSudaisSamar
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Selim | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | #2604 |
| 2024 | 64 | #2236 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2379 |
| 2021 | 56 | #2410 |
| 2020 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2019 | 74 | #1974 |
| 2018 | 75 | #1959 |
| 2017 | 78 | #1871 |
| 2016 | 62 | #2184 |
| 2015 | 56 | #2328 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2256 |
| 2013 | 30 | #3497 |
| 2012 | 26 | #3894 |
| 2011 | 26 | #3885 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5047 |
| 2009 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2008 | 16 | #5487 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8173 |
| 2006 | 13 | #6094 |
| 2005 | 13 | #5875 |
| 2004 | 11 | #6520 |
| 2003 | 16 | #4815 |
| 2002 | 10 | #6522 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Selim a popular boy name?
Selim ranked #2626 among boys in 2025 with 50 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2328.
When was the name Selim most popular?
Selim peaked in 2017, when 78 American boys received the name (ranked #1871 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Selim?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,000 newborn American boys was named Selim. It scores 74/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.