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Yara vs Salma

Which is more popular?
Salma is more popular than Yara today: about 278 US babies were given the name Salma in 2025, compared with 0 named Yara.
YaraSalma
Meaning Small butterfly (modern Arabic usage) Safe, peaceful
Origin arabic arabic
Gender Girl Girl
Pronunciation YAH-rah SAL-mah
Syllables 2 2
First appeared01918
Peak year2025 (585)1999 (442)
In 20250278
TrendRisingSteady
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Yara Salma
192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeYaraSalma
2020s 3,013 1,724
2010s 2,411 3,321
2000s 1,240 3,488
1990s 443 1,535
1980s 299 178
1970s 122 59
1960s 6 0
1910s 0 6

What does Yara mean?

In contemporary Arabic naming Yara (يارا) is most often glossed 'small butterfly'. The etymology is not firmly settled: it is also linked to the Persian yar ('friend, companion, helper'). A separate, unrelated Yara/Iara comes from Brazilian Tupi mythology, so cross-culture care is warranted.

What does Salma mean?

Salma (سلمى, salma) comes from the Arabic root s-l-m ('peace, safety, soundness') - the same root as salam and Islam - and means 'safe, peaceful, unharmed'. It is a classical name used in early Arabic poetry.

Frequently asked questions

Is Yara or Salma more popular?

Salma is more popular than Yara today: about 278 US babies were given the name Salma in 2025, compared with 0 named Yara.

What is the difference between Yara and Salma?

Yara means Small butterfly (modern Arabic usage) (arabic origin), while Salma means Safe, peaceful (arabic origin).

Which name is older, Yara or Salma?

In US records, Yara first appears in 0 and Salma in 1918, so Yara has the longer recorded history.