Sela
Girl name · #4685 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sela? In official American birth records, Sela has been tracked continuously since 1950, giving it 75 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 29 baby girls were named Sela, placing it at #4685 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4725, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 62,069 girls born in 2025 was named Sela.
Babies named Sela per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 75-year story
Sela first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 81 girls were named Sela — good for #2034 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sela in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sela is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sela will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sela is most common
State-level data for Sela is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Sela
Statistically, parents drawn to Sela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anela, Izabela, Ajla, Aniela, and Sadia.
AnelaIzabelaAjlaAnielaSadiaSheylaTaylaEnya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #4661 |
| 2024 | 35 | #4114 |
| 2023 | 26 | #4999 |
| 2022 | 24 | #5309 |
| 2021 | 21 | #5748 |
| 2020 | 19 | #6083 |
| 2019 | 27 | #4909 |
| 2018 | 45 | #3438 |
| 2017 | 27 | #4922 |
| 2016 | 22 | #5796 |
| 2015 | 29 | #4725 |
| 2014 | 34 | #4269 |
| 2013 | 29 | #4755 |
| 2012 | 37 | #4047 |
| 2011 | 43 | #3603 |
| 2010 | 31 | #4608 |
| 2009 | 50 | #3298 |
| 2008 | 51 | #3267 |
| 2007 | 63 | #2858 |
| 2006 | 68 | #2631 |
| 2005 | 64 | #2636 |
| 2004 | 47 | #3224 |
| 2003 | 64 | #2522 |
| 2002 | 61 | #2554 |
| 2001 | 66 | #2379 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sela?
In official American birth records, the name Sela first appeared in 1950 (over 75 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 75 years.
Is Sela a popular girl name?
Sela ranked #4685 among girls in 2025 with 29 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4725.
When was the name Sela most popular?
Sela peaked in 2000, when 81 American girls received the name (ranked #2034 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 62,069 newborn American girls was named Sela. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.