A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Selia since 1918
Babies named Selia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2003, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Selia's real moment was 1945.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 76 |
| 1930s | 63 |
| 1940s | 43 |
| 1950s | 63 |
| 1960s | 48 |
| 1970s | 55 |
| 1980s | 63 |
| 1990s | 61 |
| 2000s | 147 |
| 2010s | 77 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Selia is a rare name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1918. It reached its peak popularity in 1945, when it was given to a small number of baby girls. After decades of decline, the name began rising again in 1992, reflecting a broader revival of vintage-sounding names from the 1940s. Though never common, its gentle sound and connection to more familiar names like Celia and Cecilia give it a quiet appeal. It has not been recorded in any top states, indicating sporadic use across the country.
Selia is generally considered a variant of Celia, which itself derives from the Latin 'caelum' meaning 'heaven', or from the Roman family name Caelius. It may also be a short form of Cecilia, from the Latin 'caecus' meaning 'blind'. Though rare, the name has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries since the early 20th century.
“Selia” around the world
Where Selia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lee, Lea, Sia, Lia
Sibling names for Selia
Names that share Selia's style, for a brother or sister.
