Selena
Girl name · #268 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
In 2025, 1,170 baby girls were named Selena, placing it at #268 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #320, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,538 girls born in 2025 was named Selena.
The 145-year story
Selena first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 3,825 girls were named Selena — good for #91 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Selena per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Selena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Selena in class?
Selena scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Selena is most common
Geography matters for names, and Selena is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Selenas were CA (200), TX (144), FL (94), NY (53), IL (45). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Selena
Statistically, parents drawn to Selena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Serena, Sabrina, Brianna, Marina, and Mckenna.
SerenaSabrinaBriannaMarinaMckennaTianaAnaMariana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Selena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,170 | #268 |
| 2024 | 1,294 | #245 |
| 2023 | 1,307 | #229 |
| 2022 | 1,280 | #239 |
| 2021 | 1,453 | #203 |
| 2020 | 1,243 | #242 |
| 2019 | 1,336 | #233 |
| 2018 | 1,316 | #248 |
| 2017 | 1,306 | #243 |
| 2016 | 1,126 | #287 |
| 2015 | 1,016 | #320 |
| 2014 | 960 | #345 |
| 2013 | 945 | #342 |
| 2012 | 1,053 | #304 |
| 2011 | 986 | #319 |
| 2010 | 984 | #326 |
| 2009 | 1,019 | #321 |
| 2008 | 957 | #349 |
| 2007 | 1,059 | #319 |
| 2006 | 1,164 | #284 |
| 2005 | 1,379 | #242 |
| 2004 | 1,242 | #258 |
| 2003 | 1,179 | #267 |
| 2002 | 1,288 | #246 |
| 2001 | 1,485 | #214 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Selena a popular girl name?
Selena ranked #268 among girls in 2025 with 1,170 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #320.
When was the name Selena most popular?
Selena peaked in 1995, when 3,825 American girls received the name (ranked #91 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Selena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,538 newborn American girls was named Selena. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.