Selwyn Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Selwyn is a name of Old English origin, meaning 'friend of the hall'. It has evolved through historical forms such as Selwyn in Old English and retains its original meaning. The name has associations with friendship and community, although it does not have biblical relevance. Selwyn gained popularity in the 19th century and is viewed today as a unique name with traditional roots.
The name Selwyn is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Selwyn has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Selwyn' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2130th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2119th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1890th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2483rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3889th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8666th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11932nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Selwyn' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Selwyn"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɛl.wɪn/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Selwyn is derived from the Old English elements 'sæl', meaning 'hall' or 'house', and 'wine', meaning 'friend'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'friend of the hall' or 'friend of the house'.
Meaning
friend of the hall
Language Evolution
Old English: Selwyn, Middle English: Selwyn, Modern English: Selwyn
Historical Usage
The name Selwyn became more widely used in England during the 19th century, particularly as a surname, before being adopted as a first name.
Variants & Derivatives
Selwyn, Selwynne, Sel
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Selwyn is perceived as an old-fashioned yet unique name, often associated with a sense of heritage and tradition.
Famous People
Selwyn Lloyd, British politician, Selwyn Hughes, Welsh author and speaker, Selwyn Edge, Australian motor racing driver
📊 Selwyn Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Selwyn Name Visualizations
✨ Selwyn Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 43 peak births in 1961
Geographic Spread
Popular across 4 US states, with strongest presence in New York
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 9 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Selwyn"
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 "Selwyn"
"Selwyn" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2130th of 7545 | 230 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2119th of 6773 | 223 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1890th of 7552 | 331 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2483rd of 10718 | 245 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3889th of 16616 | 210 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8666th of 24088 | 112 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11932nd of 23106 | 51 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Selwyn" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
60.62% 836th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
47.94% 746th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
58.02% 1410th/2430 |
68.91% 1966th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
48.21% 1679th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
49.50% 2215th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Selwyn" 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 "Selwyn"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Selwyn" 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.