Salim (also spelled Saleem or Salem , ""Shalim" or Selim, , strictly transliterated as ) is a name of Semitic origin from the root It derives from the Semitic tri-consonantal root s-l-m (س-ل-م) meaning "safe" "clean" or "undamaged".
Versions of the name appear in a number of Semitic languages such as Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic, one of the earliest being Shalim-ahum from Bronze Age Assyria, another being Bab-shalimeti. Related names are Selima, Salima, Saleemah, Shalim and Salma.
When transliterated, the name Salem () can become indistinguishable in English, as the spelling Salim is also used, though with a long a and a short i sounds. Salim is also an Indonesian-Chinese surname based on Lim. Notable people with the name include:
Given name Saleem Saleem (playwright), Palestinian-American gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer Saleem Abdulrauf, American physician Saleem Ahmed (born 1967), Indian politician Saleem Akhtar (1930–2004), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Ali (academic) (born 1973), Pakistani American Australian academic Saleem Ali (politician) (died 2007), Maldivian political prisoner Saleem Altaf (born 1944), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Arab (died 2026), Pakistani footballer Saleem Asmi (1934–2020), Pakistani journalist and editor Saleem Badar (born 1953), Pakistani cricket umpire Saleem Badat (born 1957), South African university leader, sociologist, higher education policy specialist and researcher Saleem Bibi Bharwana (born 1957), Pakistani politician Saleem Al-Basri (1926–1997), Iraqi actor and comedian Saleem Borhot (born 1985), Canadian footballer Saleem Burki (born 1991), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Elahi (born 1976), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Farook (1964–2000), Indian economist, tribal rights activist, and social worker Saleem Farooqi (born 1940), Pakistani cyclist Saleem Gillani (1928–2008), Pakistani broadcaster, poet, and media administrator Saleem Golam, British-Mauritian flat racing jockey Saleem Haddad (born 1983), Kuwait-born author and aid worker of Iraqi-German and Palestinian-Lebanese descent Saleem Jaffar (born 1962), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Raza Jalbani (born 1964), Pakistani politician Saleem Sarwar Jaura, Pakistani politician Saleem Karim (born 1965), Pakistani cricketer and a businessman Saleem Kausar (born 1947), Pakistani Urdu poet Saleem Khan (politician) (born 1968), Pakistani politician Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, Pakistani politician Saleem Kidwai (1951–2021), Indian historian, gay rights activist, and translator Saleem Kidwai (Muslim Council of Wales), Welsh accountant Saleem Malakh (born 1957), Iraqi footballer Saleem Malik (born 1963), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Mandviwalla (born 1959), Pakistani politician Saleem Marsoof, Sri Lankan judge and lawyer Saleem Mohammed (born 1968), English cricketer Saleem Mughal (born 1978), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Mukuddem (born 1972), South African-born Bermudian cricketer Saleem Nazim (1955–2025), Pakistani field hockey player Saleem Ullah Khan Niazi Paikhel (born 1970), Pakistani agriculturist and politician Saleem Pervez (1947–2013), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Rasheed (born 1981), American and Canadian football linebacker and free agent Saleem Raza (cricketer) (born 1964), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Raza (singer) (1932–1983), Pakistani playback singer Saleem Safi (born 1968), Pakistani journalist and talk show host Saleem Sarang (born 1977), Indian politician Saleem Shah (1931–1992), Indian-American psychologist Saleem Shahzad (1970–2011), Pakistani investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad (politician) (1958–2018), Pakistani politician Saleem Shehzad (born 1946), Pakistani film, television, and radio singer Saleem Sheikh (born 1967), Pakistani actor and producer Saleem Iqbal Shervani (born 1953), Indian politician Saleem Sherwani (field hockey forward) (born 1962), Pakistani field hockey player Saleem Sherwani (field hockey goalkeeper) (born 1951), Pakistani field hockey player Saleem Tahir, Pakistani cricketer Saleem Takla (1849–1892), Lebanese-Ottoman journalist Saleem Yousuf (born 1959), Pakistani cricketer Saleem Zia, Pakistani politician
Salim Salim (poet) (1800–1866), Kurdish poet Salim Abanoz (born 1969), Turkish judoka Salim Abdalla (born 1990), Kenyan footballer Salim Abduvaliev (born 1950), Uzbek businessman and film producer Salim Abes (born 1970), Algerian handball player Salim Abubakar (born 2003), Ghanaian footballer Salim Ahamed (born 1971), Indian film director, screen writer, and producer Salim Kouider-Aïssa (born 1996), Scottish footballer Salim Akil, American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter Salim Ali (1896–1987), Indian ornithologist Salim Ben Ali (1918–2002), Comorian politician Salim Rubaya Ali (1934–1978), Yemeni Maoist politician and revolutionary Salim ibn Abd Allah (died 728), Arab narrator of hadith Salim ibn Amr ibn Abd Allah (died 680), Arab companion of Husayn ibn Ali Salim Ansari (born 1962), Indian politician Salim Miya Ansari, Nepalese politician Salim Moazenzadeh Ardabili (1936–2016), Iranian maddah and muezzin Salim Aribi (born 1974), Algerian footballer Salim Arrache (born 1982), Algerian footballer Salim bin Nasser bin Said Al Aufi, Omani politician Salim Ayyash (1963–2024), Lebanese militant and senior Hezbollah military operative Salim Babu (born 1978), Kenyan footballer Salim Babullaoghlu (born 1972), Azerbaijani poet Salim Bachi (born 1971), Algerian novelist Salim Baig, Indian actor Salim Barakat (born 1951), Kurdish-Syrian novelist and poet Salim Barjum (born 1952), Colombian diver Salim Benali (born 1986), Algerian footballer Salim Benghalem (1980–2017), French jihadist and terrorist Salim Bhagalia (died 2012), South African cricketer of Indian descent Salim Bhuiyan, Bangladeshi politician Salim al-Bishri (1832–1916), Egyptian Sunni religious scholar Salim Ben Boina (born 1991), French-Comorian footballer Salim Boukhanchouche (born 1991), Algerian footballer Salim Boumechra (born 1983), Algerian footballer Salim Al Bustani (1848–1884), Lebanese journalist and writer Salim Chartouni (born 1973), Mexican footballer Salim Chishti (1478–1572), Indian Sufi saint Salim Cissé (born 1992), Guinean footballer Salim Çivitcioğlu (born 1970), Turkish politician Salim al-Dabbagh (1941–2022), Iraqi painter and installation artist Salim Dada (born 1975), Algerian composer, musician, and musicologist Salim Daw (born 1950), Palestinian Israeli actor Salim Diakité (born 2000), French-Malian footballer Salim Khan Shams al-Dinlu, Safavid military leader and official Salim Diwan (born 1985), Indian film actor and entrepreneur Salim Djefaflia (born 1978), French footballer Salim Durani (1934–2023), Indian cricketer Salim Essa (born 1978), South African businessman Salim Fergani (born 1953), Algerian oud player and singer Salim Gangadharan (born 1953), Indian banker Salim bin Ghabaisha (1930–2016), Emirati Bedouin guide Salim Ghazal (1931–2011), Lebanese bishop Salim Ghouse (1952–2022), Indian actor, theater director and martial artist Salim Grant (born 1977), film, voice and mascot actor Salim Haidar (1911–1980), Lebanese politician Salim Haim (1919–1983), Iraqi dermatologist Salim Halali (1920–2005), Algerian singer Salim Hamdan (born 1968), convicted terrorist of Yemeni descent detained Guantanamo Bay Camp Salim Ben Hamidane (born 1969), Tunisian politician Salim Hanifi (born 1988), Algerian footballer Salim Hanna (born 2009), Colombian racing driver Salim Hassan, Indian actor Salim Al-Hassani, British-Iraqi academic Salim Hatum (1928–1967), Syrian military officer and politician Salim Hernández (born 1998), Mexican footballer Salim Heroui (born 1999), Algerian fencer Salim al-Husayni (died 1908), Palestinian politician Salim Al-Huss (1929–2024), Lebanese politician Salim Aliyow Ibrow (born 1942), Somali politician Salim Idris (born 1958), Syrian military officer and former rebel leader Salim Iles (born 1975), Algerian swimmer Salim Ismail (born 1965), Indo-Canadian serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, speaker, and technology strategist Salim al-Jabouri (born 1971), Iraqi politician Salim Nuruddin Jahangir (1569–1627), Mughal emperor, also known as Prince Salim Salim Jay (born 1951), Franco-Moroccan novelist, essayist, and literary critic Salim El Jebari (born 2004), Spanish-Moroccan footballer Salim Jemai (born 2005), French-Tunisian slalom canoeist Salim Joubran (1947–2024), Israeli judge Salim Jreissati (born 1952), Lebanese jurist and politician Salim Al-Kadi, Lebanese architect and designer Salim Kallas (1936−2013), Syrian actor Salim Kara (born 1949), Indian-Tanzanian Canadian inventor Salim Karam (born 1946), Lebanese politician Salim Abdool Karim (born 1960), South African public health physician, epidemiologist, and virologist Salim Kechiouche (born 1979), French actor Salim Keddar (born 1993), Algerian middle-distance runner Salim Kerkar (born 1987), French-Algerian footballer Salim Abdallah Khalfan (born 1961), Tanzanian politician Salim Khamis (1951–2013), Tanzanian politician Salim Khan (born 1935), Indian scriptwriter Salim Khan (Shaki khan) (died 1826), khan of Shaki Salim Saifullah Khan (born 1947), Pakistani politician Salim Khatri (1965–2023), Pakistani Islamic scholar and a political religious leader Salim Al-Khebari (born 1991), Saudi Arabian footballer Salim Khelifi (born 1994), Swiss-Tunisian footballer Salim Kipkemboi (born 1998), Kenyan cyclist Salim Kipsang (born 1979), Kenyan long-distance runner Salim Kumar (1969–2026), Indian actor, director, and writer Salim al-Kuwari (born 1978), Qatari terrorist financier Salim Lahoud (1910–1971), Lebanese politician Salim Fago Lawal (born 2003), Nigerian footballer Salim Lawzi (1922–1980), Lebanese journalist and publisher Salim L. Lewis (1908–1978), American businessman Salim Lone (born 1943), Kenyan journalist Salim Ahmed bin Mahfouz (1910–1994), Saudi businessman Salim Mahmood, Malaysian politician Salim Mahmud (born 1971), Bangladeshi politician Salim Mahsas (born 1991), Algerian footballer Salim Al Mamari (born 1999), Omani footballer Salim Mansur, Indian academic Salim ibn Ma'qil, Persian companion of the prophet Muhammad Salim Maush (born 1948), Lebanese critic, researcher, and academic Salim Abu Mayanja (born 1995), Ugandan runner Salim Jan Khan Mazari (born 1940), Pakistani politician Salim Medjkoune (born 1972), French boxer Salim Mehajer (born 1986), Lebanese-Australian convicted criminal and former politician Salim Mehmud, Pakistani rocket scientist and nuclear engineer Salim Sayyid Mengga (1951–2026), Indonesian army officer and politician Salim Mohammed (born 1946), Trinidadian cyclist Salim Moin (1961–2020), football coach Salim Moizini (born 1985), French-Comorian footballer Salim al-Moubayed (1943–2024), Palestinian writer and historian Salim Mramboini (born 1984), French-Comorian footballer Salim Musah (born 2006), German footballer Salim Muslumov (born 1961), Azerbaijani politician Salim ibn Mustafad (died 1034), army commander in the Mirdasid emirate Salim Muwakkil (born 1947), American journalist and political commentator Salim Mvurya (born 1970), Kenyan politician Salim Nasir (1944–1989), Pakistani film and TV actor Salim Nedjel (born 1972), Algerian handball player Salim Neisari (1920–2019), Iranian professor of Persian literature Salim Nourallah (born 1967), American singer, songwriter, and producer Salim Abd an-Nur, Lebanese politician Salim Obaid (born 1992), Jordanian footballer Salim Odeka (born 1994), Kenyan footballer Salim Osman (born 1958), Bangladeshi politician Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi (died 1919), Emirati ruler Salim Qub'ayn (1870–1951), Palestinian teacher, journalist, writer, historian, and translator Salim Rabahi (born 1996), Algerian judoka Salim Raj, Indian politician