Saleem, name meaning in Islam

Saleem (سَلِيم) is an Arabic name for boys, taken from a word in the Quran. It means sound, safe, whole. Selim is the Turkish form. Salim (سالم, safe) is a close but different name: Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, was one of the four people the Prophet ﷺ named for learning the Quran from (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Meaning and root

In Arabic, words are built from a root of usually three letters. Saleem comes from the root س ل م, and words from the same root share its core meaning. Similar names from the same family of words are listed below.

Is Saleem in the Quran?

In 26:89 the only one who will benefit on the Day of Judgement is "whoever comes to Allah with a sound heart".

How to say and write Saleem

Say it sa-LEEM. The capital letters show the stressed part. In English it is also spelled Salim and Selim. In Arabic it is written with 4 letters, from right to left: س sin + ل lam + ي ya + م mim.

Choosing Saleem

Names taken from words in the Quran are a popular choice. Before choosing one, read the verse it comes from, as above, so you know the context the word is used in. With the father's name it becomes Saleem bin (and the father's name): see what bin, bint and abu mean.

Famous people named Saleem

• Selim I, the Ottoman sultan

Names like Saleem

• Salman
• Salih
• Amin

1. Quran 26:89, translation by Sahih International.
2. Sahih Muslim 2315.
3. Sahih Muslim 2132.
4. Meanings follow classical Arabic usage and the standard name dictionaries; our teachers will check each one.

Our teachers will check the Arabic spelling and meaning on this page before launch.