Find out how popular the first name Selma has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Selma by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Selma is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 74 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Selma.

The history of the first name Selma

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.

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

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

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