What does Cora mean?
From the Greek kore, “maiden,” an epithet of Persephone.
What does Selena mean?
From the Greek Selene, the goddess of the moon.
Cora vs Selena
Which is more popular?
Cora is more popular than Selena today: about 2,428 US babies were given the name Cora in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
| Cora | Selena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Maiden | Moon |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | KOR-uh | suh-LEE-nuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2019 (3,602) | 1995 (3,825) |
| In 2025 | 2,428 | 1,170 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cora
Selena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cora | Selena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,879 | 7,747 |
| 2010s | 27,816 | 11,028 |
| 2000s | 7,745 | 12,417 |
| 1990s | 3,323 | 15,043 |
| 1980s | 2,224 | 3,362 |
| 1970s | 2,093 | 4,843 |
| 1960s | 3,393 | 2,535 |
| 1950s | 5,869 | 964 |
| 1940s | 8,749 | 455 |
| 1930s | 11,253 | 327 |
| 1920s | 16,161 | 424 |
| 1910s | 15,317 | 318 |
| 1900s | 10,372 | 179 |
| 1890s | 12,880 | 143 |
| 1880s | 11,954 | 102 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cora or Selena more popular?
Cora is more popular than Selena today: about 2,428 US babies were given the name Cora in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
What is the difference between Cora and Selena?
Cora means Maiden (Greek origin), while Selena means Moon (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Cora or Selena?
In US records, Cora first appears in 1880 and Selena in 1880, so Cora has the longer recorded history.