Girl name · Greek
Selena
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: the moonSelena is a girl's name that comes from Greek and means "the moon". It is used in Spanish and English.
- Meaning
- The moon
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #268 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Selena
As a girl's name, Selena comes from Greek and means "the moon". It is used in Spanish and English.
Its meaning puts Selena on our names that mean moon list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Selena on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Selena on 2 lists.
“Tribute to the Queen of Tejano music”
From Taco Bell chihuahua name, girl chihuahua names
“The moon; Greek, the Latinate form of the moon goddess's name”
From Names that mean moon, moon names for girls
How popular is Selena?
- US rank in 2025
- #268
- 1,170 babies, 728 per million girls
- Best rank
- #91 in 1995
- 3,825 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 59,887
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 78 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 64 per million |
| 1900s | 61 per million |
| 1910s | 39 per million |
| 1920s | 35 per million |
| 1930s | 31 per million |
| 1940s | 31 per million |
| 1950s | 50 per million |
| 1960s | 139 per million |
| 1970s | 313 per million |
| 1980s | 196 per million |
| 1990s | 835 per million |
| 2000s | 672 per million |
| 2010s | 630 per million |
| 2020s | 796 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #287 | #243 | #248 | #234 | #242 | #203 | #239 | #229 | #245 | #268 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Selena
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- SeleneMoon (Greek, girl)
Names spelled like Selena
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- SerenaSerene, calm (Latin, girl)
- SheenaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- SeemaBoundary, limit (Sanskrit, girl)
- SelvaForest, jungle (Latin, girl)
- SenaWorld and graceful (depends on hanja) (Korean, girl)
- SeonaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- SerenA star (Welsh, girl)
- SolanaSunny place (Spanish, girl)
- SolèneReligious, solemn (Latin, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- LunaThe moon (Latin, girl)
- AylaHalo of the moon (Turkish, girl)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
- AybarsMoon leopard (Turkish, boy)
- AyberkMighty moon (Turkish, boy)
- AybükeMoon queen (Turkish, girl)
- AyçaLike the moon (Turkish, girl)
- AydanFrom the moon (Turkish, girl)
- AyferMoon brilliance (Turkish, girl)
- AygünMoon and sun (Turkish, girl)
- AyhanMoon and khan, ruler (Turkish, unisex)
- AykutMoon and good fortune (Turkish, boy)
- AylinMoon halo, moonlight (Turkish, girl)
- AyselPure moon (Turkish, girl)
- AysimaMoon face (Turkish, girl)
Middle names for Selena
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Greek
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- ZoeLife, living (Greek, girl)
- AnastasiaResurrection, rising again (Greek, girl)
- ChristinaFollower of Christ (Greek, girl)
- NicoleVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- PetraRock, stone (Greek, girl)
- RitaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- AgnesPure, chaste (Greek, girl)
- AngelaMessenger, angel (Greek, girl)
- BarbaraForeign woman (Greek, girl)
- ChloeGreen shoot (Greek, girl)
- ClioGlory (Greek, girl)
- CorinnaMaiden (Greek, girl)
- DoraGift (Greek, girl)
Selena: common questions
What does the name Selena mean?
Selena comes from Greek and means "the moon".
Is Selena a boy or girl name?
Selena is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Selena come from?
Selena comes from Greek and means "the moon". Today it is used in Spanish and English.
How popular is the name Selena?
Selena ranked #268 in the US in 2025, with 1,170 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Selena?
Forms of Selena with the same meaning and origin include Selene (Greek).
What middle names go with Selena?
Middle names that flow well with Selena include Belle, Bess, Dawn, Eve and Iris. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.