What does Genesis mean?
Genesis is the Greek word for “origin” or “beginning.”
What does Selena mean?
From the Greek Selene, the goddess of the moon.
Genesis vs Selena
Which is more popular?
Genesis is more popular than Selena today: about 3,527 US babies were given the name Genesis in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
| Genesis | Selena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Origin, beginning | Moon |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | JEN-uh-sis | suh-LEE-nuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1964 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (4,351) | 1995 (3,825) |
| In 2025 | 3,527 | 1,170 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Genesis
Selena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Genesis | Selena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21,524 | 7,747 |
| 2010s | 40,524 | 11,028 |
| 2000s | 21,434 | 12,417 |
| 1990s | 8,685 | 15,043 |
| 1980s | 1,121 | 3,362 |
| 1970s | 278 | 4,843 |
| 1960s | 12 | 2,535 |
| 1950s | 0 | 964 |
| 1940s | 0 | 455 |
| 1930s | 0 | 327 |
| 1920s | 0 | 424 |
| 1910s | 0 | 318 |
| 1900s | 0 | 179 |
| 1890s | 0 | 143 |
| 1880s | 0 | 102 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Genesis or Selena more popular?
Genesis is more popular than Selena today: about 3,527 US babies were given the name Genesis in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
What is the difference between Genesis and Selena?
Genesis means Origin, beginning (Greek origin), while Selena means Moon (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Genesis or Selena?
In US records, Genesis first appears in 1964 and Selena in 1880, so Selena has the longer recorded history.