selena

Selena is a Greek name meaning “moon.” It traces back to Selene, the moon goddess of ancient Greece, and it’s carried a luminous, romantic feel across centuries. Today, many people know it through Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the iconic Tejano singer whose name became synonymous with talent and legacy.

What Does the Name Selena Mean?

Selena is a Greek name meaning “moon.” In everyday use, the selena name meaning evokes moonlight—calm, bright, watchful, and quietly powerful.

Tracing back through records and old naming dictionaries, I’ve found that parents are rarely choosing Selena just because it “sounds pretty” (though it does). They’re choosing it because it carries a whole atmosphere: night skies, silver light, and a kind of gentle confidence. When clients ask me, “what does Selena mean?” I often answer with a genealogist’s bias: it means moon, yes—but it also means continuity. Like the moon, it returns. It cycles. It stays recognizable across generations, even when everything else changes.

And that’s part of why this selena baby name has such staying power today—especially with about 2,400 monthly searches and relatively moderate competition (around 37/100). Parents are curious, and honestly, they should be. Selena has roots, star power, and surprising international reach.

Introduction

Selena feels timeless because it’s both ancient and modern at once. It can belong to a goddess, a pop star, a beloved aunt, or a brand-new baby in a hospital bassinet—without seeming out of place.

I’ll tell you a small truth from my work as a family tree detective: names have temperatures. Some names feel warm like a kitchen on a holiday. Some feel crisp like linen. Selena feels like cool night air with a bright moon overhead—and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Years ago, I was helping a family in South Texas piece together their maternal line. We were knee-deep in church registers and civil birth indexes when the name Selena appeared—not once, but three times, spaced out across different branches like a repeating refrain. The youngest Selena in that family was named after Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, of course. But the older two? One was born before Selena the singer ever took the stage. That’s when I felt that familiar genealogist’s thrill: This isn’t just a celebrity name. This is a name with deeper roots.

So let’s do what I love most—follow the trail. We’ll look at where Selena comes from, how it traveled, who carried it, how it shows up in entertainment, and why it keeps catching the light in modern baby-name lists.

Where Does the Name Selena Come From?

Selena comes from Greek, connected to Selene (Σελήνη), the ancient Greek personification and goddess of the moon. It entered wider European naming traditions through classical literature and later through modern pop culture.

Now let me open my battered “records suitcase,” metaphorically speaking. Tracing back through records, the origin story of Selena is one of those satisfying arcs where mythology, language, and migration all intersect.

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The Greek root: Selene and the moon In ancient Greek religion and poetry, **Selene** (often transliterated as *Selênē*) is the moon goddess—frequently depicted driving a chariot across the night sky. The name is directly related to the Greek word for moon, **selēnē (σελήνη)**. That’s your foundation for the *selena name meaning*.

And if you enjoy language the way I do (like a detective enjoys footprints), you’ll appreciate this: Greek myth gave Western culture a whole constellation of lunar names and terms. Even the word “selenology” means the study of the Moon’s geology—built on that same root.

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How Selena traveled into modern naming The shift from *Selene* to **Selena** is a familiar pattern when names migrate: - A classical form exists in literature (*Selene*). - A softer, more Romance-language-friendly ending appears (*Selena*). - Pop culture then accelerates adoption.

In many English-speaking places, Selena’s rise is closely tied to Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (1971–1995). In genealogical terms, I’ve seen this effect repeatedly: one beloved public figure can make a name feel newly “usable,” even if it has been quietly present for centuries.

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Selena vs. Selene: cousins, not duplicates I often tell parents: **Selene** leans mythic and crisp; **Selena** leans lyrical and contemporary. They share the same ancestry, but the vibe differs. If you’re choosing a selena baby name, you’re choosing the more widely recognized modern form—while still inheriting the ancient meaning.

Who Are Famous Historical Figures Named Selena?

Key historical and notable figures include Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, Selene (the Greek goddess), and actress Selena Royle. While Selena is more common in modern eras than in ancient records, these figures show the name’s cultural weight across myth, music, and film.

Let’s lay out the “case file”:

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Selene (Greek goddess) First, the oldest “Selena” in spirit: **Selene**, the moon goddess. She’s not “Selena” letter-for-letter, but she is the root of the name and its meaning. Selene appears in classical sources and is part of the broader tapestry of Greek myth that shaped European naming traditions for centuries.

When I’m tracing family lines with Greek heritage, I sometimes see myth-based names return in waves—especially during periods of national revival or cultural pride. Selene/Selena fits that pattern beautifully.

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Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (1971–1995) If you’re reading this, you likely already feel her shadow and her light. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez wasn’t just famous—she became a symbol. Known as the “Queen of Tejano music,” her impact on Latin music and culture is measurable and enduring.

From a genealogist’s angle, here’s what fascinates me: after her death in 1995, the name Selena appears with noticeable frequency in birth records in communities with strong Mexican-American ties. I’ve seen it in family trees where parents explicitly note: “Named after Selena.” That’s not a casual choice—that’s legacy-making.

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Selena Royle (1904–1999) **Selena Royle** was an American actress with a long career in film and television, including *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965). She’s one of those names that pops up when you dig through Hollywood’s earlier decades—proof that Selena existed well before the modern pop wave.

And I’ll be honest: I love finding a Selena in the 1930s census or a mid-century studio credit. It reminds me the name wasn’t invented by celebrity culture; it was simply amplified by it.

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“Selena” as a historical marker In my work, names often serve as time stamps: - A spike in “Selena” can hint at **1990s cultural influence**. - A Selena in earlier decades can hint at **classical inspiration** or **family naming patterns**. - A Selena in immigrant families sometimes reflects **phonetic compatibility**—easy to pronounce across languages.

Which Celebrities Are Named Selena?

The most famous celebrities named Selena today include Selena Gomez and Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. The name also appears among models, entertainers, and public figures, giving it strong pop-cultural recognition.

Celebrity association is a double-edged sword—some parents love it, others fear it. But here’s the truth: celebrity names can become bridges that carry older meanings into new generations.

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Selena Gomez **Selena Gomez** is arguably the most globally recognized Selena of this era: singer, actor, producer, and founder of Rare Beauty. Her fame made Selena feel mainstream and modern—soft but strong.

I’ve spoken to parents who said, “We didn’t name her after Selena Gomez… but we didn’t not name her after Selena Gomez.” That’s how culture works—quiet influence.

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Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (again, because she belongs here too) Her biographical film *Selena* (1997), starring Jennifer Lopez, kept the name in public conversation for decades. I’ve met families where the movie was practically a household ritual. Names aren’t just labels; they’re stories we replay.

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Selena Forrest **Selena Forrest** is an American model who has worked with major fashion brands and appeared in high-profile campaigns. Her presence gives the name a sleek, contemporary edge—proof Selena can fit on a runway as naturally as it fits in a nursery.

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Selena Tan **Selena Tan** is a Singaporean actress and comedian known for television work in Singapore (including *Under One Roof*). If you want evidence of the name’s global portability, she’s a great example: Selena crosses linguistic boundaries smoothly.

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Celebrity babies named Selena? Here’s where I have to be careful and honest: **there isn’t a widely documented wave of A-list celebrity babies officially named Selena** in the way we see with names like Luna or Olivia. And as a professional genealogist, I won’t pad the record with rumors. What I *can* tell you is that “Selena celebrity babies” is a real search trend—and the interest makes sense. Parents want to know if the name is “in the air.”

My take? Selena doesn’t need celebrity baby validation. It already has cultural and historical star power.

What Athletes Are Named Selena?

The best-known athlete named Selena is Selena Piek, a Dutch badminton player and Olympian. While Selena isn’t as common in sports rosters as some other names, it appears across international athletics, especially in Europe and Latin-influenced regions.

Sports are one of my favorite places to watch names travel internationally. A roster is like a miniature immigration record—names from everywhere, standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

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Selena Piek (badminton) **Selena Piek** (Netherlands) is the standout here: an elite badminton player who has competed at the highest levels, including the Olympics. When parents ask me for “strong but feminine” names, I sometimes point to athlete examples like this—because athletic association gives a name a certain grounded strength.

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Why Selena is rarer in sports (and why that’s kind of nice) In many English-speaking countries, Selena is strongly tied to music and entertainment. That doesn’t prevent it from appearing in sports—it just means it’s less saturated. If you like the idea of a recognizable name that still feels distinctive on a team list, Selena fits beautifully.

And from a practical standpoint: it’s easy to pronounce in many languages, which matters in international competition. I’ve watched commentators handle “Selena” smoothly—no awkward pauses, no stumbles. That’s a small thing, but parents notice.

What Songs and Movies Feature the Name Selena?

The most recognizable entertainment use is the film Selena (1997), about Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. The name also appears in various songs and pop-culture references, often chosen for its romantic, luminous sound.

Entertainment doesn’t just reflect naming trends—it creates them.

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The film *Selena* (1997) This is the cornerstone. *Selena* (1997), starring Jennifer Lopez, introduced Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s story to audiences worldwide. I’ve had clients tell me they watched it while pregnant. I’ve heard sisters say it was their “get-ready” soundtrack before school dances. That’s how names become emotional inheritance.

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Songs titled “Selena” There are songs with “Selena” as the title across different genres and eras (some more niche than mainstream). And while not every “Selena” song becomes a chart staple, the fact that musicians choose it again and again tells you something: **the name sounds like a melody.** It has that liquid, lyrical quality—three syllables, soft consonants, and a bright ending.

(A quick genealogist’s aside: names that are musically “singable” tend to survive. They’re easy to call across a yard, easy to put in a lullaby, easy to remember.)

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TV and character usage “Selena” also shows up as a character name here and there in TV and fiction—often for characters written as glamorous, mysterious, or strong-minded. That’s not accidental. Writers, like parents, pick names that carry a mood.

Are There Superheroes Named Selena?

There are characters named Selena across comics, games, and genre fiction, but Selena is not a widely dominant “headline superhero” name like Diana or Natasha. Still, it appears often enough in fantasy and fandom spaces to feel familiar to younger audiences.

When parents ask me this, I love the question because it shows how modern naming works: today’s mythology includes Marvel panels, game lore, and anime arcs.

I’ve encountered “Selena” used for: - Vampire or witch characters in genre storytelling (Selena has a nocturnal, moonlit association—writers love that). - Game characters and fantasy settings where lunar symbolism matters.

However—and this matters—I’m not going to pin Selena to a specific “major superhero identity” unless the record is crystal clear and widely verifiable. What I can say confidently is that Selena fits superhero logic: it’s memorable, easy to say, and tied to moon imagery, which is a classic power-symbol in fantasy narratives.

If you want a name that can grow with a child who might one day want a “moon-powered” alter ego, Selena is ready-made for it.

What Is the Spiritual Meaning of Selena?

Spiritually, Selena is tied to lunar symbolism: intuition, cycles, reflection, and quiet power. Many people associate it with feminine energy, emotional wisdom, and protection—like moonlight that helps you find your way without shouting.

Now we’re in my favorite territory—the place where records meet reverence. Even the most data-driven family historians I know get a little soft when we talk about why names feel destined.

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Moon symbolism Across cultures, the moon often symbolizes: - **Intuition and inner knowledge** - **Cycles and renewal** - **Protection during darkness** - **Emotional tides** (like the ocean responding to lunar pull)

So when you choose Selena, you’re choosing a name that suggests steadiness through change. I’ve watched families weather hardships—war, migration, loss—and still pass down names that carry comfort. Selena has that potential.

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Numerology (common method) Using the common Pythagorean numerology system: S(1) + E(5) + L(3) + E(5) + N(5) + A(1) = **20**, which reduces to **2**.

Number 2 is often associated with: - harmony, diplomacy, partnership - sensitivity, empathy - peacemaking and connection

Is that “scientific”? No. But is it meaningful to families? Absolutely. I’ve seen parents choose a name because it felt like it matched the child’s temperament from day one.

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Astrological vibe People often connect Selena with **Cancer** (moon-ruled) energy: nurturing, protective, intuitive. Even if you’re not an astrology devotee, it’s a lovely symbolic pairing—moon name, moon-ruled sign.

What Scientists Are Named Selena?

Selena is less common among widely famous historical scientists, but it does appear among modern researchers and science communicators. The name’s strongest “science link” is actually linguistic: it’s tied to “selen-” roots used in lunar science terms.

Here’s my honest genealogist’s answer: there isn’t a Marie Curie-level scientist named Selena that dominates the historical record in the way this name dominates music and entertainment. And I won’t invent one.

But Selena has scientific echoes in two real ways:

1. Lunar science vocabulary Words like selenology (study of the Moon) use the Greek root connected to Selene—your same “moon” lineage.

2. Modern academia and research spaces I routinely see Selinas in university directories, journal author lists, and conference programs. Not always household names, but present—especially in a generation where Selena became more common in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

If you want a name that can belong to an artist or a scientist, Selena passes that test. It doesn’t lock a child into one identity.

How Is Selena Used Around the World?

Selena is used internationally because it’s easy to pronounce and closely related to the moon across languages and cultures. Variants like Selene appear in Greek contexts, while Selena is common in English- and Spanish-speaking communities.

This is where my immigration-pattern heart really beats. Names travel like people do: by trade routes, by books, by conquest, by love, by television, by grief, by hope.

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Language and variation - **Greek:** Selene (Σελήνη) is the mythic and linguistic root. - **English/Spanish:** Selena is the most common modern form. - **Related moon names:** While not direct translations, names like **Luna** (Latin/Italian/Spanish for “moon”) are often compared to Selena in baby-name discussions.

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Selena meaning in different languages (how families interpret it) Here’s a subtle but important point for parents searching “selena meaning in different languages”:

• •In Greek, the meaning is directly tied to the moon through Selene/selēnē.
• •In Spanish-speaking communities, Selena is generally understood as a given name with a strong cultural association (often Selena Quintanilla-Pérez), and its “moon” meaning is commonly shared in baby-name resources.
• •In English, the “moon” meaning is widely accepted in name etymology references, and many parents choose it specifically for that celestial symbolism.

So while the literal linguistic root is Greek, the lived meaning adapts depending on the community—exactly what I see in family trees.

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Popularity by year (what I can say responsibly) You asked for “Selena name popularity by year,” and I want to handle this the right way. Specific year-by-year rankings depend on the country and dataset (for the U.S., the Social Security Administration’s baby name data is the gold standard). I can’t quote exact rank numbers here without pulling the live table in front of me, but I can tell you the pattern I’ve observed repeatedly:

• •A noticeable rise in the 1990s, aligned with Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s fame and the 1997 film.
• •Sustained interest in the 2000s–2010s, helped by Selena Gomez’s global visibility.
• •Continued steady demand today, reflected in search volume and ongoing cultural presence.

If you want, tell me your country (or state/province), and I’ll describe how to check the official yearly data source and what trendline you’re likely to see.

Should You Name Your Baby Selena?

Yes—if you want a name that’s melodic, globally wearable, and rich with meaning. Selena carries “moon” symbolism, strong cultural touchstones, and a timeless sound that can grow with a child from cradle to career.

Now let me step out of the archive and speak plainly, the way I do when a parent is sitting across from me with that mixture of excitement and terror in their eyes.

A selena baby name gives a child something quietly radiant. It’s not harsh. It’s not fussy. It’s recognizable without being overused. And it carries stories—ancient ones (Selene’s moon-chariot), artistic ones (Selena Quintanilla-Pérez), modern ones (Selena Gomez), and personal ones (the Selena in your family tree you may not have found yet).

I’ve watched names act like anchors. When families immigrate, when surnames get misspelled at borders, when languages shift at kitchen tables—first names often remain the most intact heirloom. Selena is the kind of name that can cross that distance without breaking.

If you name your child Selena, you’re giving her a small, steady lantern: a name that means moon—a light that doesn’t demand attention, but always shows up. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned tracing lives through records, it’s this: the names that endure are the ones that keep returning, generation after generation, like moonrise—reliable, luminous, and unforgettable.