Selina Girl

Popularity: #775 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: suh-LEE-nuh /səˈliː.nə/

Origin: Latin; Greek

Meaning: Latin: moon; Greek: light

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Selina is believed to have originated from the Greek word 'selene,' meaning 'moon.' This etymological root is linked to the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene, who was often depicted as a beautiful woman driving a chariot across the night sky. The name was adopted into Latin as 'Selina,' which then made its way into Old French before entering the English language in the medieval period.

The transition into English likely occurred during the Renaissance, a time of renewed interest in classical antiquity and the arts, which saw the revival of many ancient names. Historically, the name Selina has been associated with various notable figures.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name in English literature can be traced back to the 18th century, particularly in the works of poets and playwrights who were influenced by classical themes. The name gained further prominence through its use in literature and drama, notably in the works of the English poet John Milton, who included a character named Selina in his writings.

Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints and noblewomen throughout history, contributing to its cultural resonance. Culturally, Selina has often been associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and femininity, reflecting the characteristics attributed to the moon in various mythologies.

The name has also been linked to themes of light and illumination, resonating with the moon's role as a source of light in the night sky. In some traditions, Selina is considered a name that embodies a sense of calm and tranquility, further enhancing its appeal across generations.

The diminutive 'Lina' has also emerged as a related form, often used affectionately in various cultures, though its historical significance is secondary to the full name.

Famous people named Selina

In this section, you will find notable people named Selina. 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 Selina who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Selina 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.

Selina Meyer is a fictional character best known for the television series Veep.

Selina Scott is a television presenter and journalist best known for her work on ITV and Channel 4 news.

Fictional characters named Selina

The following list of fictional characters named Selina 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.

Selina Kyle is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. She is also known as Catwoman, a skilled thief and occasional ally and love interest of Batman.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Selina, 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 Selina. 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 Selina was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Selina has ranked as high as #652 nationally, which occurred in 1995, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Selina has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Selina 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 Selina was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Selina (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
CA 38
29%
NY 17
13%
TX 15
11%
FL 14
11%
WA 9
7%
VA 8
6%
GA 8
6%
MA 6
5%
NJ 6
5%
IL 5
4%
NC 5
4%

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 Selina.

YearBirths
2024175
2023168
2022162
2021176
2020158
2019205
2018229
2017214
2016218
2015222
2014248
2013213
2012242
2011224
2010219
2009253
2008277
2007291
2006295
2005295
2004240
2003238
2002262
2001262
2000279
1999348
1998336
1997357
1996376
1995704
1994614
1993496
1992363
1991311
1990269
1989331
1988231
1987248
1986265
1985264
1984251
1983255
1982287
1981294
1980233
1979242
1978288
1977399
1976201
1975154
1974198
1973220
1972198
1971222
1970150
1969146
1968198
1967232
1966269
1965244
1964195
1963246
1962246
1961205
1960167
1959148
1958103
195768
195658
195553
195461
195336
195236
195154
195027
194928
194825
194722
194613
194527
194419
194323
19429
194113
194012
193919
193812
193714
193614
193518
193415
193318
193215
193112
193024
192919
192825
192720
192633
192528
192434
192337
192232
192122
192032
191937
191847
191732
191636
191527
191417
191320
191227
191119
191019
190914
190813
190719
190615
190519
190416
190320
190213
190117
190027
189913
189822
189722
189617
189526
189411
189312
189219
189119
189024
188918
188813
188715
18869
188511
188411
188314
18819
188010