Entry № 5226 · Greek origin

Selene Selene — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ seh-LEE-nee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Moon"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 421
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "moon".

Selene (Σελήνη) is the name of the Greek goddess of the moon — drawn each night across the sky in a chariot pulled by two white horses. She is the sister of Helios (the sun) and Eos (the dawn). The element selenium was named after her by the chemist Berzelius in 1817.

Selene has been quietly available as a girl's name for centuries and has been rising steadily in the 2020s. It now sits in the U.S. top 425 — a sharper, more classical alternative to Luna for parents who want a moon name with Greek roots.

The Greek moon goddess who drives the sky each night.

The name in its native script.

Σελήνη
Transliteration
Selēnē
Pronunciation
/ səˈliː.ni /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Selene stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 421 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 421 in 2025
Babies named Selene · last year
712 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
2015
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №421 NOW · №421

Selenes before her.

Real people
Selena Gomez
American singer and actress. (Different transliteration, same Greek root.)
born 1992
In fiction
Selene
Goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.
Ancient Greek myth
Selene
Vampire heroine of the Underworld film series.
2003–present

Names connected to Selene.

The number behind Selene.

9

The Humanitarian

Selene reduces to nine — the number of compassion and quiet light.

Why families chose this name.

"She was born on a full moon. Selene was the answer."
Maria · Mother of one · Athens