Selene
Selene is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “moon, radiance.” It ranked #623 in the United States in 2025. Selene was the Greek goddess of the moon, who drove her silver chariot across the night sky.
how do you pronounce Selene?
seh-LEE-nee
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Selene mean?
The name Selene means “moon, radiance.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
Selene was the Greek goddess of the moon, who drove her silver chariot across the night sky. She is distinct from Artemis, who was associated with the crescent moon — Selene embodied the full moon itself, representing luminous beauty and the rhythms that govern tides and time.
where does the name Selene come from?
Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree Selene comes directly from the Greek Σελήνη, the name of the ancient lunar goddess. Wikipedia adds that she was an archaic deity, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and that her equivalent in Roman religion is Luna, the Latin word for moon.
the history of Selene
Beyond its mythological origin, the sources don't trace a further history of Selene's use as a given name; the wiktionary entry's mention of a fish named for the goddess isn't about the personal name and isn't repeated here.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #623 |
| 2024 | #675 |
| 2023 | #708 |
| 2022 | #692 |
| 2021 | #720 |
| 2020 | #805 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Selene?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Selene?
- Selene (protagonist in the Underworld film franchise)
- Selene Delgado (internet cultural phenomenon)
what names are similar to Selene?
what names go well with Selene?
Sibling names that share Selene's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Selene? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation