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Home › Baby Names Directory › Selwyn

Selwyn

♂ Boy

Pronounced SEL-win /ˈsɛl.wɪn/High

Meaning: From the Old English — variously 'a friend at the hall/manor' (sele, 'hall', + wine, 'friend') and 'a blessed friend'; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A friend at the hall; a blessed friend: Selwyn is Germanic/English. Crisp, retro, and warm.
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Origin LowGermanic, English
MeaningFrom the Old English — variously 'a friend at the hall/manor' (sele, 'hall', + wine, 'friend') and 'a blessed friend'; routes layered
U.S. rank (2025)#11774 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1961
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,408

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196119042025

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

Selwyn comes from the Old English — variously 'a friend at the hall/manor' (sele, 'hall', + wine, 'friend') and 'a blessed friend' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, retro name (said 'SEL-win').

In the U.S. it appears in Welsh and Caribbean families. Rare, a-friend-at-the-hall at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Selwyn is variously 'a friend at the hall/manor' (sele + wine) and 'a blessed friend' — a crisp, retro name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'SEL-win').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Selwyn — routes layered

Variations

SelwinSelwynn

Nicknames

Sel

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Selwyn…

Alwyn— a sound-neighbor -wyn boys' name
Elwyn— a fellow -wyn boys' name
Stetsyn— another English name
Suttyn— another English name
Landyn— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Selwyn

By themeuncertainenglishgermanic

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Selwyn mean?

Selwyn is Old English, variously 'a friend at the hall/manor' and 'a blessed friend'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Selwyn?

It's said SEL-win /ˈsɛl.wɪn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Selwyn a boy or girl name?

Selwyn is a boy's name.

How popular is Selwyn?

Selwyn is a very rare name in the U.S.

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