Selisa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Selisa has been for the last 14 years (from 1977 to 1990) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Selisa

A feminine name of Hispanic origin possibly meaning "sacred moon".

Popularity of Selisa by gender

Based on the last 14 years of data, Selisa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1990, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Selisa.

Year Male Count Female Count
1990 0 5
1988 0 5
1977 0 5

The history of the first name Selisa

The name Selisa has its roots in ancient Greek, deriving from the word "selene," which means "moon." It is believed to have originated in the 5th century BCE, during the Classical period of Greek civilization. The name was likely inspired by the lunar deity, Selene, who was revered as the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.

In Greek mythology, Selene was often depicted as a beautiful woman with a glowing aura, driving a chariot across the night sky. Her name was associated with the celestial beauty and mysterious allure of the moon. The name Selisa was likely a feminine variant of Selene, bearing the same connotations of lunar grace and radiance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Selisa can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. In his work, "The Republic," Plato makes a passing reference to a character named Selisa, though little is known about her significance or role in the text.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Selisa. In the 3rd century BCE, Selisa of Cyrene was a renowned Greek philosopher and mathematician. She is credited with developing innovative theories in geometry and is believed to have been one of the first women to make significant contributions to the field of mathematics.

During the Byzantine era, Selisa of Constantinople (c. 550 CE - 620 CE) was a highly regarded scholar and poet. Her works, though fragmentary, have been praised for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into the human condition.

In the 12th century, Selisa of Saxony (1120 - 1195) was a German noblewoman and abbess of the influential Quedlinburg Abbey. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her efforts to promote education and literacy among the nuns under her guidance.

Another notable figure was Selisa de Montfort (1292 - 1349), a French noblewoman and influential figure during the Hundred Years' War. She played a significant role in the political and military affairs of her time, acting as a counselor and advisor to several kings of England and France.

In more recent history, Selisa Fourie (1892 - 1976) was a South African writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social justice. Her novels and essays shed light on the challenges faced by women in the early 20th century and helped to raise awareness about gender inequality.

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 Selisa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Selisa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 17, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/selisa-meaning-and-history/.

"Selisa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/selisa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 17 June, 2025

Selisa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/selisa-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.