Psalm

Pronunciation: [ s-AHLM ]

Boy Name #1,172 Most Popular Hidden Gem 1 Syllable

An ancient sacred hymn become a modern declaration

American Christian

Spiritual Bold Modern Unique

Meaning & Origin

"sacred song, hymn"

Origin: Greek

Language: English

"song sung to a stringed instrument"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

Things to Know About This Name

The silent P will cause consistent mispronunciation and spelling confusion throughout the child's life
Very unusual, may be seen as too attention-seeking as a name

The Story of Psalm

Psalm comes from the Greek psalmos (a plucking of strings, a song sung to a harp), which translated the Hebrew mizmor (a sacred song accompanied by stringed instruments). The Book of Psalms, 150 sacred hymns attributed largely to King David, is the hymn book of both Jewish and Christian worship, among the most read and quoted texts in human history. As a given name, Psalm carries the weight of ancient sacred music.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their fourth child Psalm West in 2019, generating enormous media attention. It joins their other children North, Saint, and Chicago in a family of bold, unconventional name choices. While it gained media attention, actual adoption as a name remains rare.

The 150 Psalms are among the oldest and most widely known poetry in the world. Psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd) is recited at millions of funerals, weddings, and moments of crisis. As a name, Psalm is a deeply spiritual statement, identifying the child with the entire tradition of sacred song and worship.

Fun Facts

Psalm West, son of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, was born in May 2019
The P in Psalm is always silent in English, the word comes from Greek where ps was a distinct sound
The 150 Psalms in the Bible span genres from desperate lament to joyful praise and have been set to music thousands of times

Psalm in Other Languages

Greek Psalmos

Latin Psalmus

Arabic Mizmor

French Psaume

German Psalm

Hebrew Tehillim

Spanish Salmo

Famous People Named Psalm

Psalm West

Other

2019

Fourth child of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, whose unusual name sparked widespread public discussion

King David

Religious

The biblical King of Israel, traditionally credited as author of most of the Book of Psalms, one of history's greatest p...

The biblical King of Israel, traditionally credited as author of most of the Book of Psalms, one of history's greatest poet-musicians

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 1
Popularity Rank: #1,172
Total SSA Count: 177
Cultural Origins: American Christian
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Casual
Cross-Cultural Ease: Low

Alternative Spellings

Psalms #4216

Common Nicknames

Sam

Pairs Well With

Psalm Isaiah Psalm David Psalm Grace Psalm Emmanuel Psalm Elijah Psalm Zion

Sibling Names

Saint True North Genesis Zion Heaven

Also a Girl Name

Psalm is also used as a girl name, ranked #2866.

View Psalm as a girl name →

Similar Names

Cam Bram Sami Psalm

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Psalm

What does the name Psalm mean?

"sacred song, hymn" (from Greek). "song sung to a stringed instrument" (from Hebrew). Psalm comes from the Greek psalmos (a plucking of strings, a song sung to a harp), which translated the Hebrew mizmor (a sacred song accompanied by stringed instruments). The Book of Psalms, 150 sacred hymns attributed largely to King David, is the hymn book of both Jewish and Christian worship, among the most read and quoted texts in human history. As a given name, Psalm carries the weight of ancient sacred music.

What is the origin of the name Psalm?

Psalm has Greek, Hebrew, American, and Christian origins. In Greek, it means "sacred song, hymn". In Hebrew, it means "song sung to a stringed instrument".

Is Psalm a boy or girl name?

Psalm is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1172. As a girl name, it is ranked #2866. Psalm is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Psalm?

Psalm is pronounced s-AHLM.

How popular is the name Psalm?

Psalm is currently ranked #1172 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Psalm?

Common nicknames for Psalm include Sam.

What are good middle names for Psalm?

Popular middle name pairings include Psalm Isaiah, Psalm David, Psalm Grace, Psalm Emmanuel, Psalm Elijah, and Psalm Zion.

What are good sibling names for Psalm?

Names that pair well with Psalm as siblings include Saint, True, North, Genesis, Zion, and Heaven.

How many syllables does Psalm have?

Psalm has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Psalm a common or rare name?

Psalm is an uncommon name, ranked #1172 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Psalm

Psalm is a boy name with American and Christian origins . The name means "sacred song, hymn" in Greek .

Is Psalm a boy or girl name? Psalm is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,172 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #2,866. Psalm is more commonly used as a boy name.

Psalm is currently ranked #1,172 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Psalm has 1 syllable and is pronounced s-AHLM, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Psalm include Sam. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Psalm include Psalms . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.