Home / Name Directory / Selma
How Many People Are Named Selma?
Estimated people named Selma living in the U.S. today
5,765
Gender distribution
1% male · 99% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 27,141
- Peak year: 1918 (811 births)
- Estimated living today: 5,765
Selma by age group — who carries the name today?
Selma popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Selma
Selma has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 27,141 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 5,765 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 59,289 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Selmas you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Selma in the US?
An estimated 5,765 people named Selma are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Selma very rare — about 1 in 59,289 Americans.
Is Selma a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Selma is 1% male and 99% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Selma most popular?
Selma peaked in 1918, when 811 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Selma?
Selma ranks #3,339 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 56 out of 100 (higher means rarer).