Selma
Selma is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
God's protection (Germanic) or peaceful and safe (Arabic).
Origin and history
Selma is a female given name with multiple etymological origins, including Germanic roots related to divine protection and Arabic roots meaning peaceful or safe. It gained popularity in Europe through 18th-century Romantic literature, particularly James Macpherson's Ossian poems. In the United States, it remains a recognized traditional name with steady, modest usage.
Popularity in the United States
26,881 babies in the United States have been named Selma since 1880. It ranks #891 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1696.
States where it is most popular
- NY (27.6 %)
- PA (7.8 %)
- TX (7.2 %)
- NC (5.1 %)
- CA (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 808 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,067 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,396 |
| 1910-1920 | 5,768 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,771 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,880 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,332 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,061 |
| 1960-1970 | 681 |
| 1970-1980 | 251 |
| 1980-1990 | 225 |
| 1990-2000 | 398 |
| 2000-2010 | 956 |
| 2010-2019 | 882 |
| 2020-2029 | 405 |
Famous people named Selma
- Selma Blair: Actress
- Selma Lagerlöf: Author, Nobel Laureate
Nicknames
Selly, Sel
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread popularity in 18th-century Europe due to James Macpherson's fictional Ossianic poems, where Selma was the castle of Fingal.
- Selma is used across various cultures, notably in Scandinavian countries, Germany, Turkey, and Arabic-speaking regions.