Fun Facts About the Name Selen
- 173 babies named Selen: U.S. records list 173 babies given the name Selen from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Selen Mean?
Selen is a feminine given name meaning "moon." It is the Turkish form of the Greek name Selene (Σελήνη). In Greek, selēnē is simply the ordinary noun for the moon, so the name's meaning is literal rather than symbolic.
The Greek word is often connected with selas (σέλας), meaning "light, brightness, gleam," but the exact relationship between the two words is not settled, and some reference works treat the link as probable rather than certain.
In Turkish, the everyday word for the moon is ay; Selen exists as a personal name, not as the common noun. Related forms such as Selena and Selina come from the same Greek source, but each has its own separate history in other languages.
Selen Name History & Origins
Selene appears in early Greek poetry as the goddess of the moon. Hesiod's Theogony makes her a daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia and a sister of Helios, the sun, and Eos, the dawn. A later tradition, told in the Homeric Hymn to Selene and in other ancient sources, gives her the mortal lover Endymion. In Greek and Roman times she was increasingly identified with Artemis (Roman Diana), so that the two goddesses could stand for the same moon deity.
The name was used in the royal family of Ptolemaic Egypt. Cleopatra Selene I was a daughter of Ptolemy VIII, and Cleopatra Selene II was the daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony; she married Juba II and became queen of Numidia and Mauretania. The name thus has a documented place in Hellenistic royal naming, quite apart from its use in myth.
Selen is the form the name takes in Turkish, where it is an established feminine given name. Turkish pronunciation keeps the stress on the second syllable, se-LEN, and drops the final -e of the Greek spelling. Whether the name entered Turkish directly from Greek or by way of European classical usage is not clear. In English-speaking contexts, Selen is also encountered as a simplified spelling of Selene alongside its Turkish associations.
How Popular is the Name Selen?
Selen has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #8,271 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,271 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #17,238 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #10,186 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #10,275 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #12,025 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #11,968 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #13,583 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #12,310 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #15,626 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #18,425 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #16,115 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #9,446 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #14,360 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #16,521 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #19,096 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #16,636 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,452 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #16,769 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,251 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #13,790 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,621 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #11,461 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Selen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Selen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Selen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.