Selah
Meaningpause, reflect · Hebrew
- US rank
- #216
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #216 in 2025
1,416 babies were named Selah in the US in 2025. It has climbed 209 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1962–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Selah you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,135 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Selah, 1,416 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Selah would very likely be the only one.
- HistorySelah first shows up in US birth records in 1962, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 63 years since.
- Best yearSelah is at its all-time high right now: #216 in 2025.
- Then vs nowSelah is 14× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 15,649 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 1,135.
- TrendSelah has climbed 209 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #216. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedSelah is most popular in Montana, where it ranks #91, followed by South Dakota (#117) and Washington, D.C. (#119). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Selah means “pause, reflect”. Our records link it to English and Hebrew roots.
About the name Selah
Selah is a girl name of English and Hebrew origin meaning “pause, reflect”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-lah”. US birth records list Selah for girls from 1962 to 2025, in 55 of those 64 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #216 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #216, with 1,416 babies.
Origin:English namesHebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8 | 1,311,475 girls |
| 1970s | 3.6 | 277,008 girls |
| 1980s | 6.1 | 165,017 girls |
| 1990s | 20 | 51,282 girls |
| 2000s | 133 | 7,492 girls |
| 2010s | 354 | 2,828 girls |
| 2020s | 619 | 1,617 girls |
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Selah
What does the name Selah mean?
Selah means “pause, reflect” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Selah?
Selah has English, Hebrew roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Selah a boy or girl name?
Selah is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Selah?
Selah ranked #216 for US girls in 2025, given to 1,416 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#216).