NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Selen

A variant of the name Celina of Greek origin meaning "heavenly" or "celestial.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Selen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Selen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.

This profile covers 108 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.

The latest count is about 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 107 living people in the UK are called Selen. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Selen ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 girls were registered as Selen.
  • About 107 living people in the UK are estimated to have Selen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2023

9 births

Estimated living

107

2026

Meaning

What does Selen mean?

Selen is a given name with roots tracing back to ancient Greece. It is derived from the Greek word "Selene," which refers to the moon goddess in Greek mythology. The name was popular in ancient times and was often used to honor this revered deity.

In Greek mythology, Selene was the Titaness of the moon, responsible for its cyclical phases. She was depicted as a beautiful woman with a glowing aura, riding a chariot pulled by winged horses across the night sky. The name Selen was thus associated with beauty, grace, and the celestial realm.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Selen can be found in the works of ancient Greek poets and playwrights. Sappho, the renowned lyric poet from the 6th century BC, mentioned the name in her poetry, celebrating the moon goddess's radiance.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Selen. One such figure was Selen of Alexandria, a mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 4th century AD. She made significant contributions to the understanding of celestial mechanics and the motion of celestial bodies.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Selen of Cilicia, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century AD. She faced persecution for her faith and was eventually executed, becoming a revered figure in the early Christian Church.

In the realm of literature, Selen Kadriye was a Turkish novelist and playwright born in 1876. She was a pioneering figure in the emergence of modern Turkish literature and played a crucial role in the development of the Turkish feminist movement.

Selen Köksal, born in 1945, is a renowned Turkish painter and sculptor. Her works have been exhibited internationally and have received numerous accolades for their exploration of abstract forms and the interplay of light and shadow.

Selen İnözü, born in 1958, is a Turkish academic and politician. She served as a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and has been a vocal advocate for human rights and gender equality.

The name Selen has maintained its connection to the celestial and mythological realms throughout history. Its origins in Greek mythology and its association with the moon goddess have imbued it with a sense of beauty, grace, and mystique.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Selen over time

The chart below shows babies named Selen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Selen, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Selen
02579199620102024

Decades

Selen by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Selen 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
2020s #4344 25 5
2010s #4665 26 6
2000s #3449 36 7
1990s #2641 21 4

Related

Names similar to Selen

FAQ

Selen: questions and answers

How popular is the name Selen in the UK right now?

In 2024, Selen was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Selen most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Selen in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Selen?

A variant of the name Celina of Greek origin meaning "heavenly" or "celestial.".

How many people are called Selen in the UK?

A total of 108 babies have been registered as Selen across the 22 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.