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