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Updated August 7, 2024

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Girl name origins & meanings

  • Greek, Latin : Moon; Moon goddess 

What Does Selena Mean and Stand For? 

The name Selena comes from Selene, the Ancient Greek goddess of the moon. It was believed that Selene would pull the moon behind her chariot each night. She is the sister of Helio, god of the sun, and Eos, goddess of dawn. 

 

 

Syllables: 3

How Popular Is The Name Selena

What Does the Name Selena Mean? 

Selena is a girls' name of Greek and Latin origin, meaning "moon." The name Selena comes from Selene, the Greek goddess of the Moon.

Selena gained popularity in the Latinx community in the late 20th century after Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla rose to fame. 

Popularity of the Name Selena 

Selena is the #203 most popular girls' name in the U.S., according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. It has remained relatively popular on the charts since the year 2000. However, it ranks #3 on FamilyEducation.com. 

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Selena was at its peak popularity in December 2020. 

Popularity of the Name Selena in the United States

Selena was searched for most often in the following states: 

  • Texas
  • New Mexico
  • California
  • Arizona
  • Nevada

Famous People Named Selena and Selena in Pop Culture 

Selena Quintanilla, often known as simply "Selena," is the most famous Selena. Jennifer Lopez played her in the 1997 biopic Selena

Pop star and former Disney actress Selena Gomez was named after Selena Quintanilla. 

In the Batman universe, Selina is the real name of Catwoman. 

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

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