Selena

Meaning: Heavenly; or moon
Origin: Latin or Greek — The moon interpretation is linked to the Greek goddess Selene

Girl's name · #268 in the US (2025) · 90s wave

Popularity over time

Selena reached #91 in 1995 and has eased to #268 since. In just three years its births jumped from about 380 in 1992 to 3,800 in 1995 — the years Tejano star Selena Quintanilla rose to fame, with a further surge after her death in March 1995. One of 1992's Selenas was Selena Gomez — named, as she has said herself, after the singer.

Across the states

See where Selena is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 43 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Selena ranks in other countries and regions.

#219 in Belgium (2025) · #237 in Poland (2025) · #277 in France (2025) · #320 in Ireland (2025) · #324 in England & Wales (2025) · #342 in Austria (2025) · #367 in Switzerland (2025) · #422 in Scotland (2025) · #478 in Sweden (2025) · #505 in N. Ireland (2025) · #541 in Netherlands (2025) · #591 in Ecuador (2025) and 2 more.

Famous Selenas

Selena Gomez — American singer and actress (born 1992)
Selena — American singer
Selena Rocky Malone — Indigenous LGBTQI activist
Selena Royle — American actress (1904–1983)
Selena Piek — Dutch badminton player (born 1991)

In stories & tradition

Selena Cross — Peyton Place (novel)
Selena — Zenon: Z3 (TV series)
Selena Davis — And Deliver Us from Evil

What Selenas become

Among 97 notable people named Selena:

Entertainers appear 2.13× more often than among typical names — e.g. Selena Gomez, American singer and actress (born 1992).

Similar names: Bianca · Selene · Helena · Alexandria · Serena · Karina

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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