Salem goes back to the Hebrew word shalem and means "peace" or "complete"; in the Bible it is the city of the priest-king Melchizedek, usually identified with Jerusalem. Americans also know it as the Massachusetts town of the 1692 witch trials, which gives the name a slightly dark, witchy edge that fits the current taste. Salem entered the US top 1000 for girls in 2019, peaked at number 417 in 2023 and ranks number 436 in 2025.