
A Name Story by Houdhoud
سَلْمَى
Selma
SEL-ma
“Safe, peaceful (Bosnian usage).”
About Selma
Selma is a Muslim baby girl's name meaning "safe, peaceful (bosnian usage)" — an Arabic name carried for centuries across the Muslim world.
Bosnian/Turkish form of Salma. From the Arabic root س-ل-م.
Very common Bosnian/Turkish feminine name.
Origin & roots
Origin
Arabic
Gender
Girl
Root letters
In Arabic, root letters are the seed that gives a word its meaning. Every word built from them inherits that family of meaning — and Selma is one such word.
How to say it
Stressed syllable in capitals
Discover names like Selma
Other names with the same heart — close in origin, sound, and spirit.
ee-MAAN · Arabic
“Faith, belief.”
AH-mee-na · Arabic
“Trustworthy (Bosnian usage).”
ha-LEE-ma · Arabic · Swahili
“Gentle, patient.”
LAY-la · Persian · Arabic
“Night.”
AH-sha · Swahili · Arabic
“Living, vital (Swahili form of Aisha).”
AA-see-ah · Arabic
“One who tends, comforts.”
Common questions about Selma
- What does the name Selma mean?
- Selma (سَلْمَى) means "Safe, peaceful (Bosnian usage)". Bosnian/Turkish form of Salma. From the Arabic root س-ل-م.
- Is Selma a name from the Qur'an?
- Selma does not appear directly in the Qur'an in our verified records, though it is an Arabic name long carried across the Muslim world. We only list a Qur'anic verse when it's verified against the Tanzil corpus.
- Is Selma a boy or a girl name?
- Selma is traditionally a girl's name.
- Where does the name Selma come from?
- Selma is an Arabic name, built on the root letters S-L-M. Very common Bosnian/Turkish feminine name.
Browse names like Selma
Collections Selma belongs to.
Looking for a name made for your family?
I’ll ask six warm questions about your family — heritage, the sound you love, who you’d like to honor — and find names made for yours. About ninety seconds.
Free · No sign-up