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Home › Baby Names Directory › Selma

Selma

♀ Girl

Pronounced SEHL-ma /ˈsɛl.mæ/Low

Meaning: Origin uncertainLow

In 30 seconds: Selma is a name of uncertain origin, worn by notable women across literature and film.
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Origin LowUncertain
MeaningOrigin uncertain
U.S. rank (2025)#2810 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births61 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 26,881

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Selma is a name whose origin is genuinely uncertain in the records here. What is clear is its presence in public life, from the Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf to the actress Selma Blair. Rather than invent an etymology, its story is best told through the women who have carried it.

With its firm, two-syllable shape, Selma sounds steady and grounded. It has no listed variations, standing on its own across languages.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Selma is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Selma — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940)
    Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909.
  • ★Selma Blair (1972–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Selma…

Seoni— shares Selma's Uncertain roots
Serayah— lands in the same popularity range
Kyah— a fellow Uncertain choice
Nara— a fellow Uncertain choice
Kaida— lands in the same popularity range

Frequently Asked

What does the name Selma mean?

Selma is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Selma?

It's commonly said SEHL-ma /ˈsɛl.mæ/.

Is Selma a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Selma is used as a girl name.

How popular is Selma?

In 2024, Selma ranked #2788 in the U.S. for girls, with 61 births recorded.

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