Given name
Selena
“heavenly”
Selena is a feminine given name from Latin (ultimately Ancient Greek), meaning “heavenly.” It is used in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and 3 other languages.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
Selena is a variant of Selene. An origin associated with Selene is Greek.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Selena is a variant of Selina. The history of Selina gives this family its wider story. Selina was in use during the 17th century. Selena is a variant of Selene. The history of Selene gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Selene is associated with the goddess of the moon.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Selena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 59,944
- 57 boys · 59,887 girls
- Most popular year
- 1995
- 3,840 babies
- 2025
- 1,170
- #268 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,170 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 268 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 2.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,825 in 1995. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (200). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 43,320 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Selena’s family of names
In English usage, Selena has a diminutive in SEL. In English usage, Selena has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Celina. In English usage, Selena has a related form in Selina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Selena has relatives in 16 languages.
17 related names in 16 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 15
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- CelineNorwegian, German
- Celinarelated form · Polish, Spanish
- Salenaequivalent
- Solèneequivalent
- Selenohas masculine form
- ΣελίναGreek
- SèlēnaSerbo-Croatian
- Сѐле̄наSerbo-Croatian
Show 7 moreShow fewer
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Selena
- Selena GomezAmerican singer and actress (born 1992)
- SelenaAmerican singer (1971–1995)
- Selena RoyleAmerican actress (1904-1983)
- Selena Piekbadminton playerborn 1991
- Séléna JanicijevicFrench tennis playerborn 2002
- Selena LeeCanadian actressborn 1981
- Selena MillaresSpanish poet, writer and philologist (born 1963)
- Selena LinTaiwanese comic artistborn 1979
- Selena FoxAmerican Wiccan priestessborn 1949
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Selena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Serena
“having a peaceful disposition”
>99% girls
Sabrina
“a legendary princess”
>99% girls
Thalia
“flourish, to be verdant”
>99% girls
Cinthia
>99% girls
Cassandra
“an unheeded prophetess”
>99% girls
Zana
“one having great fame”
>99% girls
Caroline
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
April
“to open”
>99% girls