Selma

Selma is a female first name that is considered a Turkish variant of Salma, which in turn represents a form of Salima. These names derive from Salim and translate to "the Unharmed" or "the Peaceful."

What does the name Selma mean?

The first name Selma has its roots in the Turkish language and is a derivative of Salma, which represents a variant of Salima, the feminine version of Salim. The name is directly translated as "the Unharmed" or "the Peaceful." It also unfolds the meaning "the Harmonious." Its Arabic origin comes from the term salima (سَلِمَ), meaning "safe," "healthy," "intact," or "unharmed," as well as from salmā (سلمى), meaning "safe," "peaceful," or "harmonious." Selma can also be considered a short form of Anselma, which is the feminine form of Anselm, and in this context, it means "the one under the protection of the gods." This meaning is based on the Old Germanic element ans, meaning "the Ase," "the god," or "the deity," as well as the Old High German helm for "the helmet," "the covering," or "the protection." Furthermore, Selma is found in the Ossian poetry of the Scottish poet MacPherson, where the meaning "the beautiful view" is derived from the Celtic term shelma. Other variants include Salimah, Salama, Selima, Selime, and Zelma.

Where does the name Selma come from?

The name Selma has a multifaceted origin that encompasses both Celtic and Old High German elements. Its meaning can be described as "the Unharmed" or "the Peaceful."

How do you pronounce Selma?

The pronunciation of Selma is clear and two-syllable, typically pronounced as "Sel-ma" [ˈzɛlma]. The name begins with an open E sound, conveying a certain directness. The consonant cluster "-lm-" contributes to the density of the sound, while the open ending "-a" provides a gentle conclusion. Selma radiates both groundedness and modernity, presenting itself as a name with clear contours and a harmonious effect.

When is the name day of Selma?

The name day for Selma is celebrated on April 21.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Selma enjoys great popularity. Currently, it ranks 247th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2017, reaching 144th place. Over the last ten years, Selma has been given as a first name approximately 3,300 times, placing it 199th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 196th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ceka / Ella / Elma / Elmi / Keka / Mana / Sally / Sam / Sel / Seli / Sella / Selle / Sellery / Selli / Selly / Selm / Selmalein / Selmchen / Selmeli / Selmi / Selmibelmi / Selmina-Rabina / Selmine / Selmo / Selmolon / Selms / Selmselm / Selmusch / Selmwutsch / Sema / Semi / Sera / Sissy / Swelma

Similar first names

Famous people

• Selma Alispahic (Actress from Yugoslavia)
• Selma Archerd (Actress from America)
• Selma Bajrami (Bosnian singer)
• Selma Baldursson (German actress)
• Selma Bjornsdottir (Danish singer)
• Selma Björnsdóttir (Icelandic pop singer)
• Selma Blair (Actress)
• Selma Blair Beitner (American actress)
• Selma Blazekova (Slovak handball player)
• Selma Borst (Dutch)
• Selma Bouvier (Cartoon character in THE SIMPSONS)
• Selma Burke (American artist)
• Selma Ceylan (Writer from Germany)
• Selma Chalabi (British film director)
• Selma Cook (Writer from Australia)
• Selma Dabbagh (Writer from England)
• Selma Des Coudres (German painter)
• Selma Diamond (Canadian actress)
• Selma Ek (Swedish opera singer)
• Selma Engel-Wijnberg (Dutch writer)