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Seldon
Pronounced SEL-dun /หsษl.dษn/Medium
Meaning: Seldon is a variant of Sheldon, an English surname taken from place names that combine Old English scylf ('shelf, ledge, steep slope') with denu ('valley') or dun ('hill'). Like many such surnames it moved into first-name use in America.Low
Popularity in the U.S. ยท SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880โpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Seldon is a lighter spelling of Sheldon, an English surname from places whose names join scylf, 'shelf or steep slope', with a word for valley or hill. Such surnames became American first names in the nineteenth century, carried by families honoring a maiden name or forebear.
It saw quiet use as a surname-name, peaking faintly around 1916 and lingering into the early 2000s in small numbers. It was never common โ only a few dozen boys a year at most.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Seldon mean?
Seldon is a variant of Sheldon, from an English place name meaning 'steep-sided valley' or 'flat-topped hill'.
How do you pronounce Seldon?
It's said SEL-dun /หsษl.dษn/ โ two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Seldon a boy or girl name?
Seldon is used as a boy's name, a variant of Sheldon.
How popular is Seldon?
Seldon has always been rare in the U.S., a surname-name most seen in the early twentieth century.