Selah
Selah is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Praise, pause, or rest; a biblical musical/liturgical term.
Origin and history
Selah is a biblical name originating from an enigmatic Hebrew term found throughout the Old Testament, most frequently in the Psalms. It is widely interpreted as a musical or liturgical pause, instruction, or reflection. The name has experienced a dramatic surge in popularity in the United States since the 2000s, reaching the top 350 for girls.
Popularity in the United States
15,187 babies in the United States have been named Selah since 1880. It ranks #1267 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #313.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.4 %)
- TX (10.4 %)
- FL (6.7 %)
- NC (4.5 %)
- GA (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 11 |
| 1970-1980 | 55 |
| 1980-1990 | 104 |
| 1990-2000 | 347 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,482 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,176 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,012 |
Famous people named Selah
- Selah Marley: Model, Singer
- Selah Sue: Musician, Singer
Fun facts
- Although the word appears 74 times in the Bible, its precise translation remains a subject of debate among biblical scholars.
- Nearly forty percent of all U.S. female births named Selah since 1880 were recorded between 2020 and 2025.