Selah Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Selah is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Selah?
Selah is spelled S-E-L-A-H. The name has 5 letters.
Selah at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- The word “Selah” is commonly interpreted to mean “pause,” “reflection,” or “lift up” in Hebrew.
- Origin
- The term “Selah” appears in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the Psalms, where it is thought to function as a musical or liturgical notation.
- Pronunciation
- SEE-lah · 2 syllables
Selah Popularity in 2025
Rank#216
Recorded Births1,416
Rank#6,446
Recorded Births13
- Girls usage rose 63 places to #216 and recorded 282 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 1,745 places to #6,446 and recorded 8 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Selah Mean?
The word “Selah” is commonly interpreted to mean “pause,” “reflection,” or “lift up” in Hebrew.
Origin: The term “Selah” appears in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the Psalms, where it is thought to function as a musical or liturgical notation.
How Do You Pronounce Selah?
PronunciationSEE-lah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Selah?
- History
- “Selah” has been used in biblical manuscripts and liturgical practices from ancient times, though its precise origin and original pronunciation remain subjects of scholarly discussion.
- Cultural notes
- In biblical contexts, “Selah” is used to indicate a pause for contemplation or a musical interlude in the Psalms.
Selah Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,416 | #216 |
| 2025 | Boys | 13 | #6,446 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,134 | #279 |
| 2024 | Boys | 21 | #4,701 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,027 | #301 |
| 2023 | Boys | 12 | #6,897 |
| 2022 | Girls | 885 | #357 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8 | #8,990 |
| 2021 | Girls | 828 | #376 |
| 2021 | Boys | 9 | #8,166 |
| 2020 | Girls | 722 | #425 |
| 2020 | Boys | 13 | #6,296 |
| 2019 | Girls | 701 | #443 |
| 2019 | Boys | 8 | #8,889 |
| 2018 | Girls | 732 | #432 |
| 2018 | Boys | 15 | #5,770 |
| 2017 | Girls | 695 | #455 |
| 2017 | Boys | 10 | #7,546 |
| 2016 | Girls | 688 | #462 |
| 2015 | Girls | 690 | #461 |
| 2015 | Boys | 7 | #9,568 |
| 2014 | Girls | 577 | #539 |
| 2014 | Boys | 6 | #10,717 |
| 2013 | Girls | 552 | #538 |
When Was Selah Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Girls
1,416 recorded births
National rank #216
2024 · Girls
1,134 recorded births
National rank #279
2023 · Girls
1,027 recorded births
National rank #301
2022 · Girls
885 recorded births
National rank #357
Where Selah Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MT | #91 | 10 |
| SD | #117 | 9 |
| DC | #119 | 6 |
| IN | #131 | 50 |
| HI | #136 | 6 |
| NC | #154 | 65 |
| SC | #156 | 30 |
| NM | #159 | 9 |