What Does the Name Selah Mean?

Selah is a girl's name of Hebrew (biblical term) origin meaning “Uncertain; a liturgical/musical term, often read as 'pause' or 'praise'.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Selah
Gender	female
Origin	Hebrew (biblical term)
Meaning	Uncertain; a liturgical/musical term, often read as 'pause' or 'praise'
Variants	Sela, Selah
Popularity	A rising modern name in the US, especially among Christian families, recently entering the top 300-400 for girls.

The meaning and origin of Selah

The name Selah means “Uncertain; a liturgical/musical term, often read as 'pause' or 'praise'” and has Hebrew (biblical term) origins. Taken from the Hebrew word Selah that appears throughout the Psalms, whose exact meaning is unknown — it is thought to be a musical or liturgical instruction, often interpreted as 'pause and reflect' or linked to a root meaning 'to lift up / praise.' Its use as a personal name is modern.

Variants and related names

Selah is related to several other names you may recognize: Sela, Selah. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Selah?

A rising modern name in the US, especially among Christian families, recently entering the top 300-400 for girls.

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