Selma
A girls’ name of Germanic origin, meaning helmet of God; divine protection.
Selma by the numbers
In 2025, 12 babies in England and Wales were named Selma. In the US, 87 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 798 babies in 1918, so it is a 1910s name that has since fallen a long way.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Selma. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean God
Like Selma, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Isabellapledged to God15,112 in the US (2017)
- Elizabethmy God is an oath8,924 in the US (2017)
- Angelmessenger of God6,157 in the US (2017)
- Auroradawn; Roman goddess of sunrise1,030 in England and Wales (2025)
- SamanthaGod has heard; feminine form of Samuel4,308 in the US (2017)
- Micahwho is like God3,924 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a protector
Like Selma, each of these has a protector in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Parkerkeeper of the park; park ranger5,833 in the US (2017)
- Alexadefender of men; form of Alexandra3,888 in the US (2017)
- Alexisdefender, helper2,847 in the US (2017)
- Alexdefender, helper; short form of Alexander or Alexis2,766 in the US (2017)
- Alexandradefender of mankind2,592 in the US (2017)
- Alexandriadefender of mankind; a form of Alexander1,238 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Selma
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