Selim means “safe, sound; healthy”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a boy's name in Turkish and Uyghur and also used in Azerbaijani.
- Selim is a name of Arabic origin.
- It is recorded for Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani.
- 2 syllables (counted from the spelling) and 5 letters.
What does Selim mean?
Selim is a Turkish male name from Arabic salīm, 'safe, sound, healthy', which came into Turkish through Ottoman Turkish. Selim is also the name of a district in Kars province.[1,3]
Selim in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani
What does Selim mean in Turkish?
In Turkish the name is written Selim. No separate Turkish gloss is recorded, so the general meaning “safe, sound; healthy” applies. It is recorded as a boy's name.[1]
What does Selim mean in Uyghur?
In Uyghur the name is written سەلىم, سېلىم, Selim (ULY transliteration), Sélim (ULY transliteration), سېلىم and Sélim. Here it is glossed as “healthy, safe and sound”[3]. It is recorded as a boy's name.[3]
What does Selim mean in Azerbaijani?
In Azerbaijani the name is written Səlim. No separate Azerbaijani gloss is recorded, so the general meaning “safe, sound; healthy” applies. It is recorded as a boy's name.
Where does the name Selim come from?
Arabic, borrowing. Inherited from Ottoman Turkish, from Arabic salīm.[1]✓ Documented
Arabic, borrowing. The Dictionary of Uyghur Names gives the origin as Arabic.[3]✓ Documented
How do you pronounce Selim?
In IPA: /seˈlim/, as given in the cited dictionary entry.
Which languages use the name Selim?
Selim is used as a given name in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani. Its origin is Arabic. The table shows for each language whether the use is documented by a cited source or comes from our editorial research.
Selim across Turkic languages
| Language | Spelling | Gender | Meaning in this language | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish | SelimLatin | Boy | same as above: “safe, sound; healthy” | Documented[1] |
| Uyghur | سەلىمArabic script سېلىمArabic script سېلىمArabic script, variant SélimLatin, variant | Boy | “healthy, safe and sound” | Documented[3] |
| Azerbaijani | SəlimLatin | Boy | same as above: “safe, sound; healthy” | Editorial |
Similar spellings in different languages do not prove a shared origin: two languages can arrive at the same sound from different words. The origin section above states what the sources say.
Spelling variations of Selim
Forms are shown as recorded, in their original script. Romanizations and rule-based conversions are labelled with their system and are not presented as attested spellings.
| Form | Language | Script | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selim[1] | Turkish | Latin | Native spelling |
| سەلىم[3] | Uyghur | Arabic script | Native spelling |
| سېلىم[3] | Uyghur | Arabic script | Native spelling |
| Selim[3] | Uyghur | Latin | Romanization (ULY transliteration) |
| Sélim[3] | Uyghur | Latin | Romanization (ULY transliteration) |
| سېلىم[3] | Uyghur | Arabic script | Variant |
| Sélim[3] | Uyghur | Latin | Variant (ULY transliteration) |
| Səlim | Azerbaijani | Latin | Native spelling |
Names related to Selim
Variants and linked names
- SelimeGirl“healthy, safe and sound”
Sibling names for Selim
Names recorded for the same languages that start with a different letter, so two children are not mixed up. Names that share a meaning theme or an element with Selim rank first. Siblings do not have to match; these are only ideas.
- MemnunBoy“pleased, content”same language (turkish)
- FevziBoy“victorious, triumphant”same language (turkish)
- MirheyderBoy“the name Xeyder with the epithet Mir”same language (uyghur)
- AysiymaGirl“moon-faced, moon-like”same language (uyghur)
- NurdoğduGirl“light was born”same language (turkish)
- CesurBoy“brave, bold”same language (turkish, azerbaijani)
- AcarbeyBoy“bold, capable lord”same language (turkish)
- EsperBoy“yellow, the colour yellow”same language (uyghur)
Common questions about Selim
What does the name Selim mean?
Selim means “safe, sound; healthy”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a boy's name in Turkish and Uyghur and also used in Azerbaijani.
Is Selim a girl's or a boy's name?
Selim is recorded as a boy's name. By language: Turkish: boys; Uyghur: boys; Azerbaijani: boys.
Where does Selim come from?
Selim is of Arabic origin according to our origin records. Read the origin section above for the sources.
Which languages use Selim?
Selim is recorded for Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani. The table shows each language's spelling, gender and evidence label, and a language is listed only when our data records the name for it.
How is Selim spelled in other scripts?
Recorded spellings: Selim (Latin), سەلىم (Arabic script), سېلىم (Arabic script), Sélim (Latin), Səlim (Latin). Romanizations and rule-based conversions are labelled as such in the spelling table.
How many syllables does Selim have?
Selim has 2 syllables by our approximate count of vowel groups in the spelling, and 5 letters. Pronunciation can differ by language.
Sources
Numbers in the text point to these sources. The descriptions on this page are written by our editors; source texts are not copied.
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “Selim”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 93000509. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: inherited from Ottoman سلیم (Selîm), from Arabic سَلِيم; classified as a male given name in the Turkish section; IPA /seˈlim/ (Turkish Pronunciation section); listed as a male given name in the Turkish section (+2 more)
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “سليم”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 92742779. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Arabic adjective safe, secure; healthy; free (from)
- Uyghur Language. Dictionary of Uyghur Names. Uyghur Language (GitHub: uyghur-language/names), revision 075ed994f116b4b9e06c7d013b4fb880db679883. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: MIT License.
Supports: entry in the Dictionary of Uyghur Names; Uyghur gloss: ساغلام، ساق-سالامەت; listed as a Uyghur given name (masculine); origin: Arabic (+4 more)
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