Selena
seh-LEE-nuh · 3 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Greek ◈ 3 syllables
"Moon"

From Greek

Selena means moon — from the Greek Selene, the goddess who drove her silver chariot across the night sky. But in the American heart, Selena means one thing: Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music, whose murder at 23 made her a legend and whose legacy has only grown. Selena Gomez has carried the name into the 21st century. It's a name that shines in the dark.

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Selena at a glance
MeaningMoon
OriginGreek
GenderFemale
Syllables3
Name dayVaries
NumerologyLife Path 2
US Rank (today)#249
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Why parents love Selena
  • Selena Quintanilla is one of the most beloved musicians in American history.
  • The meaning moon is celestial and beautiful.
  • Selena Gomez keeps the name current for a new generation.
  • Three syllables with a luminous, flowing sound: seh-LEE-nah.
  • It bridges Greek mythology and Latin American culture beautifully.
The vibe of Selena
lunarluminousTejanoGreekbelovedflowingcelestiallegendary
Origin & history of Selena
Greek Σελήνη (Selēnē, moon) Latin Selena English/Spanish Selena
1
Greek roots
Selena comes from the Greek Selēnē, the moon goddess who was Helios's (the sun's) sister. She drove a silver chariot across the night sky. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (1971–1995), the Queen of Tejano music, became one of the most influential Latin artists in American history. Her murder at age 23 shocked the world, and the biographical film Selena (1997) starring Jennifer Lopez became a cultural landmark. Selena Gomez, named after Quintanilla, has become one of the most followed people on social media and a successful actress, singer, and entrepreneur.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient Greece — Selene was the moon goddess; modern given-name usage spans multiple cultures.
3
Today
Selena remains a beloved choice, ranking #249 in the US. 58,753 babies have been named Selena since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
How popular is Selena?
1995 peak year
Selena appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 1995, 3,825 babies were named Selena (ranked #91 nationally). Today it sits around #249, with roughly 1,266 babies named Selena each year. Selena's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 58,753 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
3,825 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #91)
1,266 Avg. per year
(last decade)
12,660 Total registrations
last 10 years
58,753 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #249) Very popular
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Selena
2
Life path number
The Peacemaker
Diplomacy, harmony and deep empathy.

Selena's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — lunar ambition, earthly achievement. People named Selena tend to be magnetic, talented, and capable of achieving legendary status. Their light grows stronger over time.

Grows stronger over time
Magnetic and talented
Legendary potential
Lunar ambition
Light in the dark
S1
E5
L3
E5
N5
A1
Sum: 20 → Life path 2
Personality of Selena
🕊️
Peaceful
They bring calm to every room.
💞
Deeply loving
Their love runs deep and steady.
🎭
Intuitive
They read people with extraordinary accuracy.
🎵
Artistic soul
Beauty speaks to them powerfully.
Names that sound like Selena

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Names that combine with Selena

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Selena.

Middle names for Selena

The right middle name turns Selena into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
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