Seldon Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Seldon is an Old English name meaning 'rarely hill'. It has evolved from Old English 'Seldun' to Middle English 'Selden' and is now used in modern English. The name reflects traits of uniqueness and rarity. It does not have biblical relevance and gained popularity as a surname in medieval England.
The name Seldon is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Seldon has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Seldon' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1529th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1872nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2692nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4802nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10056th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 15196th out of 24088 names. Discover how the name 'Seldon' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Seldon"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɛldən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Seldon is derived from the Old English elements 'seld' meaning 'seldom' or 'rarely' and 'dun' meaning 'hill' or 'down', which collectively could signify 'the seldom hill'.
Meaning
rarely hill
Language Evolution
Old English: Seldun, Middle English: Selden, Modern English: Seldon
Historical Usage
Seldon gained popularity as a surname in England during the medieval period and has been used as a given name more recently.
Variants & Derivatives
Selden, Seldin
Modern Popularity & Image
Seldon is considered an uncommon name today, often associated with uniqueness and individuality.
Famous People
Seldon Crisis, a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.
Explore More Seldon Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Seldon"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Seldon"
"Seldon" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1529th of 7545 | 375 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1872nd of 6773 | 275 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2692nd of 7552 | 177 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4802nd of 10718 | 73 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10056th of 16616 | 32 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 15196th of 24088 | 30 |
Regional Popularity of "Seldon" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
52.20% 1235th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
64.56% 1519th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
73.36% 2093rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Seldon" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Seldon"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Seldon" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.