Find out how popular the first name Selassie has been for the last 23 years (from 2000 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Selassie by gender

Based on the last 23 years of data, Selassie is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Selassie.

The history of the first name Selassie

The name Selassie has its origins in the Amharic language, which is one of the Semitic languages spoken in Ethiopia. Amharic is the official working language of Ethiopia, and it is believed that the name Selassie has been in use since ancient times in the region.

The name Selassie is derived from the Amharic word "se'lassie," which means "trinity." It is closely associated with the concept of the Holy Trinity in Christian theology, particularly in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has been the dominant form of Christianity in Ethiopia for centuries.

One of the earliest and most notable historical references to the name Selassie can be found in the titles of the Ethiopian monarchs. The title "Negus" (King) was often preceded by the phrase "Negusse Negest" (King of Kings), and the name Selassie was commonly used as part of this title.

The most famous bearer of the name Selassie was Haile Selassie I (1892-1975), who was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He was a highly influential figure in the 20th century, known for his efforts to modernize Ethiopia and his role in the decolonization of Africa. Haile Selassie I was also revered as the Messiah by the Rastafarian movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s.

Another notable figure with the name Selassie was Zera Yacob (1599-1692), an Ethiopian philosopher and theologian who is considered one of the greatest thinkers of his time. Zera Yacob wrote extensively on various subjects, including philosophy, theology, and astronomy, and his works had a significant impact on the intellectual tradition of Ethiopia.

In the realm of religion, the name Selassie has been associated with several prominent figures in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. One such figure was Abune Petros (1892-1936), who was the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and a vocal critic of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in the 1930s.

The name Selassie has also been used by other individuals throughout history, although their impact and recognition may not be as widespread as the figures mentioned above. For example, Selassie Afewerk was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the first President of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in the early 1990s.

Overall, the name Selassie is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of Ethiopia, and its etymology and historical significance are closely intertwined with the country's rich history and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Selassie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Selassie, please contact us.

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