THE NAME REPORT · FIRST-NAME VIEW
Selene
suh-LEE-nee
MEANING
moon
NAME PROFILE
Pronunciation & Spelling
Easy for most readers
The spelling is not fully self-directing on first sight. A new reader can reasonably land on more than one pronunciation.
86/100
Everyday Use
Low risk
The spoken form sits close to other familiar given names, so an introduction can occasionally be heard as a different name.
94/100
Lifetime Fit
Strong lifetime fit
Nothing in the form itself marks it as a casual-only version of a longer name, which gives the same legal form more room across settings.
92/100
International Mobility
Travels well, with one adaptation
Cross-market pronunciation is the main trade-off: the spelling stays recognizable, but the first reading can shift with local language rules.
90/100
NAME DETAILS
- IN OTHER LANGUAGES
- Sélène (French)
- Selini (Greek)
About the name
Meaning
moon.
Origin and history
Σελήνη (Ancient Greek). Greek. Ancient Greek worship of Selene as an independent deity was comparatively limited even next to her brother Helios; over time she became increasingly identified with other goddesses, especially Artemis and Hecate, rather than sustaining independent cult status. Limited evidence points to an oracle sanctuary near Thalamai in Laconia and altars at various sanctuaries.
Mythological and religious context
This was the name of the Greek goddess of the moon, a Titan, traditionally the daughter of Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister to sun god Helios and dawn goddess Eos. Her primary mythological role involved driving a moon chariot across the heavens. She received various consorts across different accounts, including Zeus, Pan, and, most famously, the mortal Endymion. She bore children to different partners, including the goddess Pandia (with Zeus) and fifty daughters (with Endymion), and participated in the Gigantomachy, fighting the Giants alongside her siblings.
Style through life
A luminous, classically elegant name for an adult woman, carrying formal and mythological weight without feeling dated. Gentle and melodic for a young child, three clear syllables, though the accent placement ("suh-LEE-nee" vs. other renderings) can vary among English speakers who are unfamiliar with the name.
Regional and cultural use
A classical Greek mythological name used today primarily as a modern given name in English-, Italian-, and other European-language contexts, drawing on its association with the moon and the Greek goddess.
CULTURAL REFERENCES
The Japanese lunar spacecraft SELENE
nicknamed Kaguya
Bottom line
Selene clears the first-name bar comfortably; the one thing left is a practical check, not a reconsideration. A useful final check is simple: let a fresh reader see the name once, without coaching, and listen to the first pronunciation.
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