What Does the Name Selena Mean?
Selena is a girl's name of Greek (Latinized) origin meaning “Moon.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Selena |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Greek (Latinized) |
| Meaning | Moon |
| Variants | Selene, Selina, Celina, Selenia |
| Popularity | Strongly popular in the US, especially among Latino families, generally inside the top 200-300; reinforced by Selena Quintanilla and Selena Gomez. |
The meaning and origin of Selena
The name Selena means “Moon” and has Greek (Latinized) origins. A Latinized form of Greek Selene, the moon goddess, from 'selas' meaning 'light' or 'brightness.' Despite sounding alike, it is etymologically distinct from Serena; it gained iconic status through singer Selena Quintanilla.
Variants and related names
Selena is related to several other names you may recognize: Selene, Selina, Celina, Selenia. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Selena?
Strongly popular in the US, especially among Latino families, generally inside the top 200-300; reinforced by Selena Quintanilla and Selena Gomez.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Selena below.
Generate a fake Selena profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Selena? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Selena mean?+
The name Selena means “Moon” and is of Greek (Latinized) origin.
What is the origin of the name Selena?+
Selena originates from Greek (Latinized).
Is Selena a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Selena has trended in the US over time.
Selena by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press