Selena
Meaning of Selena
Derived from the ancient Greek Σελήνη, Selena carries the literal meaning “moon,” and, through Latin transmission, entered the Iberian linguistic sphere before finding durable currency in both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking North America. Customarily rendered as seh-LEH-nah in Spanish and suh-LEE-nuh in General American English, the name invokes classical mythology by alluding to Selene, the personified moon who presided over nightly luminance for the Hellenes. Modern associations, however, are shaped less by antiquity than by popular culture: the Tejano singer-songwriter Selena Quintanilla propelled the name into national awareness during the mid-1990s, a period that saw its U.S. ranking climb to No. 89 in 1995, while actress-musician Selena Gomez has maintained its contemporary resonance. Although the ensuing decades have brought a measured decline, the Social Security Administration still records consistent usage, with 1,289 newborns named Selena in 2024 and a corresponding rank of 231, underscoring a steady, mid-tier appeal rather than ephemeral vogue. For parents seeking an appellation that balances lyrical phonetics, multicultural familiarity, and a quiet celestial symbolism, Selena offers a choice grounded in both mythic antiquity and modern artistic legacy.
Pronunciation
Spanish
- Pronunced as seh-LEH-nah (/se.ˈle.na/)
English
- Pronunced as suh-LEE-nuh (/sə.ˈli.nə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Selena
| Selena Gomez is an American actress and singer who started on Barney and Friends, rose to fame as Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, and later led Selena Gomez and the Scene with three albums on Hollywood Records. |
| Selena Sturmay is a Canadian curler from Edmonton who skips her own team at the Saville Community Sports Centre. |
| Selena Samuela is a New York based Italian American Peloton instructor who grew up in Italy until age 11 before moving to Elmira, New York. |
| Selena Shaikh is an Australian professional squash player who was ranked 119th in the PSA World Rankings in July 2018. |
