A semiconductor light emitting element has a first conductive-type cladding layer, an undoped active layer, a second conductive-type cladding layer, and a second conductive-type current spreading layer that are formed on a first conductive-type semiconductor substrate. The second conductive-type cladding layer has a first dopant suppressing layer formed at a portion in the second conductive-type cladding layer, the portion being not in contact with the active layer. The first dopant suppressing layer has a dopant concentration lower than a region in the vicinity of the first dopant suppressing layer.