Holding steady, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Selby since 1909
Babies named Selby per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Selby's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1910s | 0 | 82 |
| 1920s | 0 | 142 |
| 1930s | 16 | 108 |
| 1940s | 5 | 75 |
| 1950s | 17 | 78 |
| 1960s | 0 | 53 |
| 1970s | 5 | 40 |
| 1980s | 20 | 17 |
| 1990s | 86 | 54 |
| 2000s | 70 | 19 |
| 2010s | 61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13 | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Selby is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1909, the same year it reached its peak rank of #12,008. In 2025, it remains uncommon, with about 1 in every 341,615 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory has been stable, never experiencing a surge or significant decline. The name has no strong association with any particular state or region, reflecting its sparse and scattered usage. For parents drawn to surname-style names, Selby offers a gentle, underused alternative to more popular choices like Shelby or Sydney, carrying a quiet English heritage tied to a Yorkshire place name.
Selby is a transferred use of an English surname. The surname originates from a place name in North Yorkshire, England, which is derived from Old English sele 'hall, manor' or sealh 'willow' + Old Norse bȳ 'farmstead, village'. It has been used as a given name since the late 19th century, primarily for girls.
Sibling names for Selby
Names that share Selby's style, for a brother or sister.
