UK girl's name
Selda
An Arabic feminine name meaning "serene, tranquil".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Selda is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Selda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2014 to 2014. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Selda is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Selda. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Selda ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 3 girls were registered as Selda.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Selda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5691
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Selda mean?
The given name Selda is believed to have originated from the Turkish language, where it is a feminine name. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire and the Seljuk Turks, who ruled various regions of Anatolia and the Middle East from the 11th to the 14th century.
Selda is derived from the Turkish word "sel," which means "torrent" or "flood," and the suffix "-da," which is a common feminine name ending in Turkish. The name is thought to symbolize strength, power, and resilience, much like a powerful torrent or flood. It may have been given to girls born during times of heavy rainfall or flooding, or to those who were considered strong-willed and determined.
While the name Selda does not appear to have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in Ottoman records and literature from the 16th century onwards. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Selda Hanım, a Turkish noblewoman and philanthropist who lived in the late 19th century and established several schools and charitable institutions for women and children in Istanbul.
Among the notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Selda are Selda Bağcan, a prominent Turkish folk singer and political activist born in 1948, who was known for her powerful vocals and socially conscious lyrics. Selda Alkor, born in 1973, is a Turkish actress and model who has appeared in numerous films and television series.
Selda Öz, born in 1977, is a Turkish writer and journalist who has published several novels and short story collections, exploring themes of identity, feminism, and modern life in Turkey. Selda Gökalp Aytaç, born in 1963, is a Turkish academic and professor of linguistics, known for her contributions to the study of Turkish language and literature.
Selda Bektore, born in 1982, is a Turkish-American artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums around the world, often exploring themes of cultural identity and the human experience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Selda by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Selda was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5691 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Selda
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Selda: questions and answers
How popular is the name Selda in the UK right now?
In 2014, Selda was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Selda most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 3 babies registered as Selda in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Selda?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "serene, tranquil".
How many people are called Selda in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Selda across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.