Surname Saleh - Meaning and Origin
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Saleh: What does the surname Saleh mean?
The last name Saleh is an Arabic name meaning ‘righteous’, ‘righteousness’, or ‘just’. It can be seen as a reflection of the high value placed on justice and honesty in Arabic culture. The term ‘saleh’ is found in the Qur’an, where it is used to refer to those who submitted to Allah and followed the Islamic faith.
The name is also used to refer to ‘people of positive disposition and integrity', which is likely why it is so popular among Arabs as it praises the noble traits that many aspire to. Notable people with this surname include the Saudi politician Saleh Al-Sayer who was appointed as the Minister of Health for Saudi Arabia in 2009, and the writer and journalist Fadia Saleh who is known for her work in Middle Eastern affairs and gender equality.
The name is widely used across the Arab world, with bearers of the surname coming from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. It is also found in Central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as in parts of North and West Africa. It is most commonly understood to mean ‘righteous’ or ‘just’ and appears to be an increasingly common last name among Arabs, highlighting its strong positive connotations.
Order DNA origin analysisSaleh: Where does the name Saleh come from?
The last name Saleh is most commonly found in the Arabic-speaking world, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon. It's also a fairly popular name in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar. In addition, Saleh is sometimes found in other Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen. The name is also found in parts of North Africa like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.
Today, Saleh is considered an Arabized version of the Jewish last name Zalman. The origin of the name is believed to derive from the Hebrew word for "prince". It is likely that the name became popularized during the Islamic invasions of the Middle East, when Jews began to take on Arab names to fit in with the local culture.
In the United States, Saleh is becoming a more and more common name, particularly among those of Arab descent. According to the United States Census Bureau, the name is the 259th most popular surname in the U.S., with approximately 30,000 Americans sharing the name. It is also growing in popularity in the United Kingdom where it is the 266th most popular last name.
Overall, Saleh is most prevalent in those countries that were part of the Arab world during the Islamic invasions of the Middle East but it is becoming a more popular name in many Western countries as well.
Variations of the surname Saleh
Saleh is an Arabic surname that comes from the Arabic name Salih meaning one who is good and pious. It is also connected to the Jewish name Shalah meaning ‘peaceful’.
Variants of Saleh include Saleha, Salih, Salaha, Saliha, Salah, Salahe, Salyah, Slah, Selah and Salha.
In different countries, the surname may have other variations due to the spelling variations, such as Salay, Saalh, Saalih, Salayyah, Sal Michell, Sayh, Sawla, Sayah and Seleh. The surname has been taken up in other cultures, such as India, with variants including Salleh, Salleha, Salihah, Salea, Salahudin and Sallehah.
In the United States, people with this surname are sometimes referred to as Salahuddin, but most commonly found as Saleh.
Surnames that have the same origin as Saleh include Salahideen, Salaheddin, Salhleh, Salayha, Salhab, Salhaddin and Salahiddin.
Overall, Saleh is a surname with significant cultural and religious implications. It is quite common across the Arab world and is found in other parts of the world, too, often with a different spelling and variations. Many surnames, including Salah, Salaheddin, Salahideen and Salhaddin, share a common origin to Saleh and have variations in spelling.
Famous people with the name Saleh
- Ragheb Saleh: Jordanian entrepreneur and former minister in the Jordanian government.
- Mazen Saleh: Syrian film director and producer currently based in Paris.
- Mohamed Saleh: Egyptian international footballer who plays as a striker for FC Pyramids.
- Dia Saleh: Yemeni poet, journalist, writer and human rights defender.
- Ammar Saleh: Palestinian film maker, producer, and director based in Barcelona.
- Talal Saleh: Bahraini footballer who plays for Al Arabi Sports Club.
- Abdel-Aziz Saleh: Moroccan international footballer who plays as a forward for Istanbul Başakşehir.
- Tawfiq Saleh: Egyptian playwright, poet, film director, film producer and screenwriter.
- Khaled Saleh: Syrian actor, director, and theater instructor.
- Ahmed Saleh: Yemeni international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Yemeni club Al Wehda.