Selma Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SEL-ma //ˈsɛl.mə//
Origin: Arabic; Germanic
Meaning: Arabic: 'peace'; Germanic: 'helmet, protection'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Selma has its roots in Old German, deriving from the elements 'selig,' meaning 'blessed' or 'happy,' and 'ma,' which is a diminutive suffix. This etymological origin reflects a sense of well-being and joy, and the name evolved through various linguistic stages before entering the English lexicon.
The name was adopted into Arabic as 'Salma,' which carries the meaning of 'peace' or 'safety,' further enriching its connotations. The transition into English occurred through the influence of Scandinavian languages, particularly during the Viking Age, where it was used in various forms in Norse culture.
Historically, Selma has been associated with notable figures and events. One significant milestone is its mention in literature, particularly in the 19th century, when it appeared in works such as Selma Lagerlöf's writings, which contributed to its recognition in literary circles.
Additionally, the name has been linked to various saints and religious figures, enhancing its spiritual significance. The name's presence in the King James Bible, particularly in the context of biblical translations, also underscores its historical resonance within Christian traditions.
Culturally, Selma has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing peace and happiness, which aligns with its etymological roots. The name has been celebrated in folklore and stories, reinforcing its positive associations.
In some cultures, diminutive forms like 'Sel' or 'Sally' have emerged, reflecting familial affection and familiarity. Overall, Selma's enduring appeal can be traced through its rich linguistic heritage and the positive attributes it embodies.
Famous people named Selma
In this section, you will find notable people named Selma. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Selma who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Selma who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Selma Blair is an actress best known for Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, and The Sweetest Thing.
Selma Hayek is an actress and producer best known for Frida, Desperado, and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Fictional characters named Selma
The following list of fictional characters named Selma is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Selma is a fictional character from the film and musical Selma. She is a key figure in the civil rights movement, representing the struggles for voting rights in the 1960s.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Selma, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Selma. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Selma was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Selma has ranked as high as #377 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, California, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Selma has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Selma is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Selma was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Selma (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 6 | |
| NY | 6 | |
| CA | 5 | |
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Selma.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2021 | 63 |
| 2020 | 82 |
| 2019 | 87 |
| 2018 | 79 |
| 2017 | 88 |
| 2016 | 95 |
| 2015 | 88 |
| 2014 | 109 |
| 2013 | 82 |
| 2012 | 72 |
| 2011 | 96 |
| 2010 | 86 |
| 2009 | 87 |
| 2008 | 90 |
| 2007 | 100 |
| 2006 | 103 |
| 2005 | 117 |
| 2004 | 118 |
| 2003 | 96 |
| 2002 | 74 |
| 2001 | 90 |
| 2000 | 81 |
| 1999 | 70 |
| 1998 | 64 |
| 1997 | 54 |
| 1996 | 42 |
| 1995 | 32 |
| 1994 | 22 |
| 1993 | 17 |
| 1992 | 32 |
| 1991 | 30 |
| 1990 | 35 |
| 1989 | 24 |
| 1988 | 26 |
| 1987 | 19 |
| 1986 | 27 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 19 |
| 1983 | 19 |
| 1982 | 27 |
| 1981 | 28 |
| 1980 | 25 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 22 |
| 1977 | 26 |
| 1976 | 20 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1973 | 26 |
| 1972 | 23 |
| 1971 | 37 |
| 1970 | 40 |
| 1969 | 35 |
| 1968 | 34 |
| 1967 | 40 |
| 1966 | 54 |
| 1965 | 91 |
| 1964 | 63 |
| 1963 | 66 |
| 1962 | 89 |
| 1961 | 116 |
| 1960 | 93 |
| 1959 | 91 |
| 1958 | 90 |
| 1957 | 105 |
| 1956 | 115 |
| 1955 | 113 |
| 1954 | 104 |
| 1953 | 118 |
| 1952 | 102 |
| 1951 | 121 |
| 1950 | 102 |
| 1949 | 120 |
| 1948 | 129 |
| 1947 | 140 |
| 1946 | 138 |
| 1945 | 102 |
| 1944 | 128 |
| 1943 | 122 |
| 1942 | 159 |
| 1941 | 144 |
| 1940 | 150 |
| 1939 | 156 |
| 1938 | 188 |
| 1937 | 225 |
| 1936 | 243 |
| 1935 | 212 |
| 1934 | 264 |
| 1933 | 296 |
| 1932 | 326 |
| 1931 | 420 |
| 1930 | 550 |
| 1929 | 563 |
| 1928 | 598 |
| 1927 | 669 |
| 1926 | 671 |
| 1925 | 668 |
| 1924 | 735 |
| 1923 | 703 |
| 1922 | 692 |
| 1921 | 704 |
| 1920 | 768 |
| 1919 | 682 |
| 1918 | 798 |
| 1917 | 786 |
| 1916 | 718 |
| 1915 | 741 |
| 1914 | 587 |
| 1913 | 455 |
| 1912 | 387 |
| 1911 | 321 |
| 1910 | 293 |
| 1909 | 250 |
| 1908 | 257 |
| 1907 | 231 |
| 1906 | 252 |
| 1905 | 224 |
| 1904 | 231 |
| 1903 | 218 |
| 1902 | 252 |
| 1901 | 242 |
| 1900 | 239 |
| 1899 | 206 |
| 1898 | 229 |
| 1897 | 183 |
| 1896 | 238 |
| 1895 | 208 |
| 1894 | 212 |
| 1893 | 211 |
| 1892 | 209 |
| 1891 | 206 |
| 1890 | 165 |
| 1889 | 133 |
| 1888 | 139 |
| 1887 | 97 |
| 1886 | 91 |
| 1885 | 68 |
| 1884 | 63 |
| 1883 | 80 |
| 1882 | 54 |
| 1881 | 47 |
| 1880 | 36 |