Selena
Selena is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Moon or bright goddess of the moon.
Origin and history
Selena is derived from the Greek name Selene, which means moon or moon goddess. The name experienced a dramatic surge in popularity in the United States during the mid-1990s and has remained a well-established classic. It continues to be a favored choice among American parents seeking a melodic name with classical roots.
Popularity in the United States
59,887 babies in the United States have been named Selena since 1880. It ranks #527 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #231.
States where it is most popular
- CA (16.7 %)
- TX (11.5 %)
- NY (6.2 %)
- FL (5.9 %)
- IL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 102 |
| 1890-1900 | 143 |
| 1900-1910 | 179 |
| 1910-1920 | 318 |
| 1920-1930 | 424 |
| 1930-1940 | 327 |
| 1940-1950 | 455 |
| 1950-1960 | 964 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,535 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,843 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,362 |
| 1990-2000 | 15,043 |
| 2000-2010 | 12,417 |
| 2010-2019 | 11,028 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,747 |
Famous people named Selena
- Selena Quintanilla: Singer, Songwriter
- Selena Gomez: Singer, Actress
Nicknames
Sel, Lena, Selly
Fun facts
- Selena traces back to Selene, the ancient Greek personification of the moon who was said to drive her chariot across the night sky.
- The name saw its highest U.S. popularity jump in 1995 following the tragic passing of Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla.