Declining since 2001, #4,661 for girls today.
Popularity of Sela since 1950
Babies named Sela per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 17 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 13 |
| 1980s | 17 |
| 1990s | 188 |
| 2000s | 615 |
| 2010s | 324 |
| 2020s | 154 |
Meaning & origin
Sela is a rare girl's name in the United States, with first recorded use in 1950. It peaked in popularity in 2000 before entering a gradual decline; by 2025, only about 1 in 55,423 newborn girls received the name. The name is most concentrated in California. Though its origins are uncertain, Sela may be a modern respelling of Selah, a biblical term from the Hebrew Psalms, or a separate coinage. Its simplicity and melodic sound align with contemporary naming trends favoring short, vowel-ending names.
Sela is likely a modern American coinage, possibly influenced by the biblical term Selah (often interpreted as a musical or liturgical pause) or as a feminine variant of Selah. It may also be a respelling of similar-sounding names like Sela, a place name (e.g., Sela in Jordan). The name has been in occasional use in the United States since at least 1950, with a peak in 2000.
Where Sela is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Selah
Sibling names for Sela
Names that share Sela's style, for a brother or sister.
