Selene Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Selene has its roots in ancient Greek, meaning 'moon', and is associated with the Greek moon goddess. It has evolved from ancient Greek forms to modern derivatives. The name embodies traits of beauty, mystery, and tranquility. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Selene is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Selene has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Selene' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7086th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5088th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2599th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1928th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1432nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1302nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 871st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Selene' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Selene"
Pronunciation
/səˈliːni/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Selene is derived from the ancient Greek word 'Selēnē', which means 'moon'. In Greek mythology, Selene is the goddess of the moon, often depicted as driving a chariot across the night sky.
Meaning
moon
Language Evolution
Selene (Ancient Greek), Selena (Latin), Selene (Modern Greek)
Historical Usage
The name Selene has been used since ancient times, particularly in Greek mythology, and has retained some popularity in modern times, especially in literature and the arts.
Variants & Derivatives
Selena, Celine, Celena
Modern Popularity & Image
Selene is often perceived as a mystical and romantic name, associated with beauty and tranquility. It has gained popularity in contemporary naming trends, especially in literature and film.
Famous People
Selene Gomez (American singer and actress), Selene (mythological figure)
Explore More Selene Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Selene"
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 "Selene"
"Selene" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7086th of 9107 | 16 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5088th of 9204 | 52 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2599th of 12526 | 361 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1928th of 19264 | 737 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1432nd of 27321 | 1,650 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1302nd of 35406 | 2,683 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 871st of 30306 | 3,741 |
Regional Popularity of "Selene" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Selene" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
72.51% 1762nd/2430 |
- |
88.07% 2444th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
82.43% 2421st/2937 |
47.77% 1664th/3483 |
57.99% 2040th/3518 |
33.09% 1338th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
56.66% 2088th/3685 |
61.39% 2747th/4475 |
25.86% 1343rd/5194 |
12.14% 767th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
38.93% 1784th/4582 |
34.82% 1798th/5164 |
19.80% 1448th/7313 |
11.83% 883rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
26.23% 1045th/3984 |
20.24% 908th/4487 |
14.19% 968th/6822 |
10.85% 681st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Selene"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Selene" 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.