Cognomen Szalaj (Szalaj 
) , in the entire world, is a rare family name. The surname Szalaj is characteristic of Poland, where it is quite a rare surname, Croatia, where it is a rare surname, and Ireland. Not in comparison with a country's population, it is the most numerous in Poland, the United States, and France. More frequently, Szalaj is the forename as well as the last name.