A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Selwyn since 1904
Babies named Selwyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Selwyn's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 85 |
| 1920s | 195 |
| 1930s | 134 |
| 1940s | 71 |
| 1950s | 141 |
| 1960s | 258 |
| 1970s | 129 |
| 1980s | 125 |
| 1990s | 130 |
| 2000s | 58 |
| 2010s | 61 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Meaning & origin
Selwyn is a name with a distinctly English pedigree, rooted in Old English origins and carrying a meaning of friendship and hospitality. First recorded in U.S. births in 1904, the name reached its peak popularity in that very year, suggesting a pattern of occasional use rather than sustained popularity. Its trajectory shows a revival since 2022, with recent numbers indicating a modest but steady rise in interest. With 1 in 284,679 boys receiving the name in 2025, Selwyn remains a rare but recognizable choice, often favored by parents drawn to classic, surname-style names with a touch of nobility.
Selwyn is derived from an Old English place name, composed of sele "hall" and wine "friend". It also appears as a Norman surname brought to England after the Conquest, possibly from a place in France. As a given name, it has been in use since the 19th century, often within English gentry and clergy families.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sel
Variants: Selwin
Sibling names for Selwyn
Names that share Selwyn's style, for a brother or sister.
