Selma
English · Girl · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Selma
Selma is derived from the Arabic word "salima," meaning "safe" or "peaceful," with linguistic roots in Semitic languages.
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Etymology
Selma is derived from the Arabic word "salima," meaning "safe" or "peaceful," with linguistic roots in Semitic languages. The name is used across Arabic, Jewish, and Western cultures, gaining particular prominence in Scandinavia and among Jewish communities in the early-to-mid 20th century.
Selma currently ranks #2,810 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1918.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Turkish names that sit beautifully beside SelmaSimilar names you might like
Names starting with SMore names starting with S
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Names that sound like Selma
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