Selena
Fact sheet
- Name
- Selena
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
The name Selena is a Latinized variant of the Greek name Selene, which originates from Greek mythology and is derived from the moon goddess Selene. She is the sister of the sun god Helios.
What does the name Selena mean?
Selena represents a Latinized form of the Greek name Selene, which originates from Greek mythology. The name is often interpreted as 'the moon goddess,' but it also has other interpretations such as 'the shining moon,' 'the bright moon,' and 'the glow of the moon.' Its roots lie in Ancient Greek, derived from the word selēnē, meaning 'the moon,' and the term sélas, which describes 'the light,' 'the brightness,' and 'the glow,' relating to the light of the full moon. In the French spelling, the name Séléna is used. Additionally, Selena has a folk meaning in Turkish that encompasses 'beauty,' 'blessing,' or 'rain,' referencing the wind goddess Yel Ana from Turkish mythology. Other variants include Selina, Seline, Silina, Selenay, Selenia, Selenka, Seleina, and Selenya. The forms Celina, Celin, Celine, Celinee, Celiena, and Cellina are also common. Notable bearers of the name include American actress Selena Gomez and Mexican singer Selena Quintanilla.
Where does the name Selena come from?
The origin of the name Selena traces back to Ancient Greek and includes meanings such as 'the glow of the moon' or 'the bright moon.' The components of the word consist of selēnē, meaning 'the moon,' and sélas, which denotes 'light,' 'brightness,' or 'glow.' The languages in which the name appears include English, Latin, Russian, and Spanish.
How do you pronounce Selena?
The sound and pronunciation of Selena are three syllables and fluid. In the German language, the name is usually pronounced as 'Se-le-na' [zeˈleːna] or [seˈleːna], with the pronunciation starting with a clear E sound. The stressed syllable '-le-' with a long E gives the name elegance and clarity. The open 'a' at the end provides a harmonious finish. Thus, Selena sounds feminine and graceful and has a melodic, gentle, and timeless quality.
When is the name day of Selena?
Selena celebrates her name day on October 21 and November 22.
Popularity
In Germany, the first name Selena enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 440th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 1999, reaching 329th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 1,100 times, securing it the 488th place in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 527th.
Nicknames & pet names
El / Eli / Ella / Elle / Ena / Eni / Lena / Lenchen / Leni / Sea / See / Sel / Selala / Sele / Selen / Selenita / Seli / Seli . / Selinski / Sell / Sella / Selli-Maus / Selly / Seloss / Sels / Senna / Sese / Söbü
Similar first names
Famous people
- Selena (character from Eragon (mother of Eragon and Murtagh))
- Selena Gomez (actress)
- Selena Li (Hong Kong actress)
- Selena Marie Gomez (actress, singer, voice actress, model, film producer)
- Selena Millares (Spanish writer)
- Selena O'Hanlon (Canadian equestrian)
- Selena Piek (Dutch badminton player)
- Selena Quintanilla-Perez (American singer)
- Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (singer)
- Selena Royle (American actress)
- Selena Rudge (English rugby player)
- Selena Steele (American actress)
- Selena Tan (Singaporean actress)
Frequently asked questions about the name Selena
What is the origin of the name Selena?
Selena has Ancient Greek roots and is derived from 'selēnē,' which means 'the moon.' The name conveys meanings such as 'the glow of the moon' and 'the bright moon.'
What does the name Selena mean?
The name is often interpreted as 'the moon goddess,' but it also encompasses interpretations such as 'the shining moon' and 'the glow of the moon.'
How popular is the name Selena?
Selena is a popular name that is widespread in various countries and cultures, partly due to notable personalities like Selena Gomez and Selena Quintanilla.