Seleena
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "the moon" or "moon goddess".
Name Census estimates that about 210 living Americans carry the first name Seleena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Seleena today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Seleena births was 1995 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Seleena. 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
210
~ 1 in 1,632,164 Americans
Peak year
1995
23 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2016 SSA rank
#15,928
Tracked since 1980
Popularity
Seleena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Seleena from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 106 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Seleena 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 Seleena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Seleenas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Seleena
The name Seleena is believed to have its origins in the ancient Greek language, deriving from the word "selene," which means "moon." This connection to the celestial body suggests that the name may have been borne by individuals associated with lunar worship or revered for their beauty and grace, qualities often linked to the moon's mystical allure.
In Greek mythology, Selene was the personification of the moon, a powerful goddess who traversed the night skies in her chariot drawn by winged horses. Her radiant presence illuminated the darkness, guiding travelers and inspiring poets with her ethereal beauty. The name Seleena, therefore, carries a symbolic resonance with the divine feminine and the cyclical rhythms of nature.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Seleena can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was bestowed upon daughters of noble families. However, its usage was not limited to the Greek civilization; variations of the name have been found in other cultures influenced by Hellenic traditions, such as the Byzantine Empire and the Roman world.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Seleena. One of the most renowned was Seleena of Alexandria (circa 350 CE), a renowned mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and geometry. Her treatises on celestial mechanics and the motion of heavenly bodies were highly influential during the Byzantine era.
Another notable Seleena was Seleena of Ephesus (circa 200 BCE), a highly respected priestess and oracle at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Her prophetic wisdom and spiritual guidance were sought by pilgrims from across the Mediterranean region.
In the literary realm, Seleena of Samos (circa 600 BCE) was a celebrated lyric poet whose works, though mostly lost to time, were praised by ancient scholars for their eloquence and emotional depth.
During the Renaissance, Seleena Borgia (1480-1528), a member of the infamous Borgia family, was a renowned patron of the arts and a muse to many Renaissance artists and poets, known for her beauty, intellect, and appreciation of the arts.
More recently, Seleena Faye (1923-2015), an American actress and singer, gained fame for her performances on Broadway and in Hollywood musicals, showcasing her talent and charisma on stage and screen.
People
Seleena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Seleena 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
Seleena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Seleena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 210 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Seleena 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 1,632,164 US residents.
Is Seleena a common name?
We classify Seleena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 215 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Seleena most popular?
The single biggest year for Seleena was 1995, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Seleena is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Seleena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Seleena 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.