Declining since 2005, #2,778 for girls today.
Popularity of Selma since 1880
Babies named Selma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Selma's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 808 |
| 1890s | 2,067 |
| 1900s | 2,396 |
| 1910s | 5,768 |
| 1920s | 6,771 |
| 1930s | 2,880 |
| 1940s | 1,332 |
| 1950s | 1,061 |
| 1960s | 681 |
| 1970s | 251 |
| 1980s | 225 |
| 1990s | 398 |
| 2000s | 956 |
| 2010s | 882 |
| 2020s | 405 |
Meaning & origin
Selma has seen fluctuating popularity over the decades. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880 and reached its peak in 1891 (rank 2778 in 2025). After declining for much of the 20th century, it has been on a falling trajectory since 2005. Today, about 1 in 26,349 girls are named Selma. The name is most common in California and Texas, reflecting both its Scandinavian heritage and Arabic roots. Despite its decline, Selma retains a classic charm, often associated with the Nobel Prize-winning author Selma Lagerlöf and the historic civil rights march in Alabama.
Selma has multiple possible origins. As a Germanic name, it is derived from the element 'selb' meaning 'self, personal' or from the root 'sal' meaning 'hall, house'. In Arabic, it is a feminine form of Salim, meaning 'safe, secure'. The name gained popularity in Scandinavia via Selma Lagerlöf, the Swedish author, and in English-speaking countries through the film 'Selma' (2014).
Where Selma is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Selma” around the world
Where Selma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
300
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Selly, Sema, Mama
Sibling names for Selma
Names that share Selma's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Elma, Thelma, Stella, Alma, Wilma, Hilma, Hulda, Irma, Nelda, Velma, Wilda, Zelma, Joella, Melda, Zulma, Belma, Elmina, Melvia, Nelma, Nelva, Otila, Relda, Velmer, Wylma, Zelpha, Delmi, Delva, Gilma, Talma, Thelda, Almeter, Felma, Guelda, Telma, Velvia, Velvie, Welda, Welma, Zelta, Zerah
Brothers: Elmer, Arvid, Oskar, Sven, Gustav, Thelbert, Delman, Thelmer, Waino, Delvis, Thelton
