Sela
A feminine name derived from Hebrew, meaning "rock" or "stone".
Name Census estimates that about 1,273 living Americans carry the first name Sela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sela today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sela births was 2000 (81 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sela. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 269,249 Americans
Peak year
2000
81 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,173
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Sela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sela from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 615 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sela by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Selas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Sela, while Washington, Utah, Oregon recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sela
The name Sela has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "selah," which means "rock" or "boulder." The name is believed to have been associated with strength, resilience, and stability in the Jewish tradition.
One of the earliest references to the name Sela can be found in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Judges. It is mentioned as the name of a rock formation where the Israelites took refuge from the Philistines. This association with a physical rock or fortress may have contributed to the symbolic meaning of the name.
In the Middle Ages, the name Sela was occasionally given to Jewish children, particularly in regions where Hebrew names were commonly used. However, it remained relatively uncommon compared to other Hebrew names of the time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sela was Sela ibn Al-Fadl (c. 1008-1062), a renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar from Spain. He made significant contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and literature.
Another notable figure was Sela Merrill Peres (1862-1942), an American educator and activist who played a crucial role in establishing kindergartens and early childhood education programs in the United States.
In the 20th century, Sela Ward (born 1956) became a well-known American actress, known for her roles in popular television shows such as "Sisters" and "Once and Again." She received numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations throughout her career.
Sela Vave (born 1985) is a Samoan-American singer and songwriter who gained recognition for her powerful vocals and performances. She has released several successful albums and has collaborated with various artists in the music industry.
More recently, Sela Aaronso (born 1990) is a South African model and actress who has appeared in several international fashion campaigns and television shows. She has also been involved in various philanthropic initiatives focused on empowering women and children.
While the name Sela remains relatively uncommon in many parts of the world, it holds significant historical and cultural significance, particularly within the Jewish community, where it is associated with strength, resilience, and a connection to ancient traditions.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Sela
People
Sela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,273 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sela going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 269,249 US residents.
Is Sela a common name?
We classify Sela as "Rare". It ranks above 91.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,299 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sela most popular?
The single biggest year for Sela was 2000, when 81 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sela is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sela in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.