The name Selene is of Greek origin and means "moon". In Greek mythology, Selene was the goddess of the moon and was said to drive a horse-drawn chariot across the sky each night to light up the darkness with her silvery glow.
Selene was also known as one of the three virgin goddesses along with Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and Hestia, goddess of the hearth. She was renowned for her beauty and grace, as well as her wisdom and intelligence.
The name Selene has been used throughout history, but it gained popularity in modern times thanks to various pop culture references. For instance, Selene is the name of the vampire queen in the Underworld film series, and also appears in works such as The Vampire Diaries and the video game God of War.
Today, Selene remains a popular choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their daughter. Its association with the moon makes it a beautiful option for those who appreciate celestial themes or simply want a name that shines brightly like the moon itself.
The name Selene has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century in the United States. In the early years, it was quite rare with only a handful of births each year from 1919 to 1947. However, starting in 1946, there was a notable increase with 23 births that year.
The trend continued into the 1950s and 1960s, with fluctuations in the number of births each year but an overall upward trajectory. For example, in 1958, there were 27 births, rising to 40 in 1963, and peaking at 70 in 1969.
The 1970s saw a slight dip, but the 1980s marked another significant increase. In 1989, there were 85 births, followed by triple-digit numbers from 1990 onwards, indicating that Selene was becoming more widely accepted as a given name.
The peak of popularity for the name Selene in the United States came around the late 2010s to early 2020s. In 2021 and 2022, there were over 400 births each year, indicating that many parents are choosing this name for their daughters.
Overall, since 1919, there have been a total of 8809 births of the name Selene in the United States. This upward trend demonstrates how tastes and preferences in baby names can evolve over time.