What does Selena mean?
From the Greek Selene, the goddess of the moon.
What does Athena mean?
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and war; the name’s ultimate meaning is uncertain.
Selena vs Athena
Which is more popular?
Athena is more popular than Selena today: about 2,477 US babies were given the name Athena in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
| Selena | Athena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Moon | Goddess of wisdom |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | suh-LEE-nuh | uh-THEE-nah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1902 |
| Peak year | 1995 (3,825) | 2022 (3,029) |
| In 2025 | 1,170 | 2,477 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Selena
Athena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Selena | Athena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,747 | 16,536 |
| 2010s | 11,028 | 18,303 |
| 2000s | 12,417 | 6,169 |
| 1990s | 15,043 | 3,191 |
| 1980s | 3,362 | 2,964 |
| 1970s | 4,843 | 2,588 |
| 1960s | 2,535 | 1,517 |
| 1950s | 964 | 786 |
| 1940s | 455 | 203 |
| 1930s | 327 | 245 |
| 1920s | 424 | 416 |
| 1910s | 318 | 183 |
| 1900s | 179 | 17 |
| 1890s | 143 | 0 |
| 1880s | 102 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Selena or Athena more popular?
Athena is more popular than Selena today: about 2,477 US babies were given the name Athena in 2025, compared with 1,170 named Selena.
What is the difference between Selena and Athena?
Selena means Moon (Greek origin), while Athena means Goddess of wisdom (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Selena or Athena?
In US records, Selena first appears in 1880 and Athena in 1902, so Selena has the longer recorded history.