The name Selma originates from the Old Norse language and is derived from the elements "salr" meaning "hall" or "house" and "mær" meaning "maiden" or "virgin." It was a common name among Germanic tribes during the medieval period.

In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Sælmær" or "Selmær" and was popular among Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon cultures. It is believed to have been introduced to England by Norse settlers and Vikings during their raids and conquests.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Selma can be found in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," which dates back to around the 8th century. The name is mentioned in a list of female characters, suggesting its use among the Anglo-Saxon nobility at the time.

During the Middle Ages, the name Selma was particularly popular in Sweden and Norway. It was borne by several notable figures, including Selma Lagerløf (1858-1940), a Swedish author and the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909.

Another famous bearer of the name was Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), a Swedish novelist and teacher who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909 for her works depicting life in her home region of Värmland. Her most famous novel, "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils," published in 1906, is a beloved children's classic.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Selma was Selma Freifrau von Steinitz (1834-1892), a German-American educator and activist who founded the Kindergarten Messenger, a magazine promoting the kindergarten movement in America.

During the American Civil War, the name gained prominence with Selma, Alabama, a city named after the legendary Norse goddess Selmå, who was associated with the moon and fertility. The Battle of Selma, fought in 1865, was a significant event in the final stages of the war.

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940), a Swedish writer and teacher, was another notable bearer of the name. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909 for her vivid depictions of Swedish life and landscape in her novels and short stories.