Selene
Selene was the 623rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 469 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 557 places. More babies were named Selene in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Celine) heavenly (from Caelina) or short for Marceline · Latin, French
- Rank in 2025
- #623 girls, up 182 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 469girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025469 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,718babies recorded
What does the name Selene mean?
Selene is a spelling of Celine, pronounced the same way, so it shares Celine's meaning and origin.
Celine is the French name Céline. Wiktionary gives two sources: Latin Caelina, from the Roman family name Caelius, linked with caelum, "heaven"; and a short form of Marceline, the diminutive of Marcel, from the Roman name Marcellus (DMNES lists the feminine Marcella). The name was rare in English until recently; the singer Celine Dion made it widely known.
Caelius (Latin, “Roman family name, associated with caelum 'heaven'”)caelum (Latin, “sky, heaven”)
How sure is this? Probable. Two possible origins; the heaven connection is through the Roman name Caelius.
Related names: Céline, Selene, Marceline, Celina.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Celine', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Marcella', DMNES, Durham University
Selene popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 5 since 1991.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #623 | 469 |
| 2020 | #805 | 337 |
| 2010 | #1,315 | 179 |
| 2000 | #1,540 | 117 |
| 1990 | #1,070 | 166 |
| 1980 | #1,974 | 54 |
| 1970 | #1,823 | 49 |
| 1960 | #3,187 | 16 |
| 1950 | #3,029 | 13 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Selene, counting every spelling?
Selene is a spelling of Celine, a name family that ranked #167 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #623 for Selene on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,017 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celine | 1,466 | #207 | 5,589 |
| Selene | 469 | #623 | 2,118 |
| Seline | 55 | #3,021 | 208 |
| Selen | 13 | #8,271 | 46 |
| Seleen | 9 | #10,781 | 39 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Selene?
469 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Selene (0.13 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Selene born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 18 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Selene.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Selene?
About 9,400 people born in the US named Selene are alive today, with a median age of 16; half are between 6 and 31. That makes Selene mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Selene by state
How common Selene was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in California (2.1×), Nevada (1.8×), Florida (1.6×), Arizona (1.5×). In 20 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Selene: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Selene, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Selene
What does Selene mean?
Selene is a spelling of Celine, which means “heavenly (from Caelina) or short for Marceline” (Latin, French origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Selene?
Selene was the 623rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 469 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 557 places. More babies were named Selene in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Selene a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Selene in the US.
Where is Selene most popular?
In 2021–2025, Selene was most common in California (0.54 per 1,000 girls), followed by Nevada and Florida.