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