Selim

Selim is the Turkish variant of the Arabic name Salim. The name comes from the Arabic word salīm (سَلِيم), which means 'safe, healthy, unharmed, whole'. Therefore, Selim can be interpreted as 'the Healthy' or 'the Unharmed'.

What does the name Selim mean?

Selim is the Turkish form of the Arabic Salim and is derived from the Arabic term salīm (سَلِيم), which means 'safe, healthy, unharmed, whole'. Thus, the name means 'the Healthy' or 'the Unharmed'. In Turkey, Selim is widely used, but it is also common in Albania. This traditional name was held by three sultans of the Ottoman Empire between 1465 and 1808. Notable bearers of the name include Turkish actor Selim Bayraktar and German footballer Selim Teber. Female variants are Selima and Selime.

Where does the name Selim come from?

Selim is a male first name of Arabic origin meaning 'the Healthy' or 'the Unharmed'. The Arabic term salīm (سَلِيم) encompasses the meanings 'safe, healthy, unharmed, whole'. It is prevalent in the languages Arabic, Albanian, Ottoman, and Turkish.

How do you pronounce Selim?

The pronunciation of Selim is soft and flowing. The name is two syllables and is usually pronounced as 'Se-lim' [zeˈliːm] or [sɛˈliːm]. It begins with a bright E sound, while the stressed second syllable carries a long I sound. The final m provides a harmonious conclusion. Selim conveys an elegant and calm presence as well as a melodic note.

Popularity

In Germany, Selim enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 294th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 1930 when it reached 208th place. In the last ten years, Selim has been given as a first name approximately 2,400 times, placing it 292nd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 309th.

Nicknames & pet names

Salam / Salami / Sele / Selemmi / Seli / Selilo / Selo / Silim / Slim

Similar first names

Famous people

• Selim Aga (Sudanese writer)
• Selim Akbulut (footballer)
• Selim Al-Deen (Bengali writer)
• Selim Ay (footballer)
• Selim Bayraktar (Iraqi actor)
• Selim Ben Djemia (French footballer)
• Selim Benachour (Tunisian footballer)
• Selim Bouadla (footballer from France)
• Selim Bradley (character from Fullmetal Alchemist(-Brotherhood))
• Selim Cürükkaya (writer from Great Britain)
• Selim Deringil (historian)
• Selim Erdogan (poet)
• Selim Giray (Turkish musician)
• Selim Gülgören (singer)
• Selim Gündüz (German footballer)
• Selim Haroun Nze (footballer from France)
• Selim Hedoui (Tunisian handball player)
• Selim I (sultan and caliph)
• Selim Imamoglu (footballer from Austria)
• Selim Kaabi (French footballer)