Selah

Selah is a female first name that is considered a variant of the biblical name Sela. The translation could be 'the rocky one' or more freely interpreted as 'pause and praise God'.

What does the name Selah mean?

Selah, a girl's name, is a variant form of the biblical name Sela. Its presumed meaning is 'the rocky one', alternatively interpreted as 'pause and praise God'. The exact interpretation is uncertain, but it is believed that at this point in the Psalms, the congregation was to be encouraged to sing. The name has its roots in Hebrew סֶלָה, a liturgical term from the Psalms. It is often derived from the ancient Hebrew word séla (סֶלַע), which means 'rock', 'stone', 'mountain', 'firm support', and 'rocky'.

Where does the name Selah come from?

The name Selah has ancient Hebrew origins and means 'the rocky one'. The etymology consists of the ancient Hebrew term séla (סֶלַע), which stands for 'rock', 'stone', 'mountain', 'firm support', and 'rocky'. The language is biblical Hebrew as well as English.

How do you pronounce Selah?

The pronunciation of Selah is gentle and melodic. The name is two syllables and is typically pronounced in German as 'SE-lah' [ˈzeːla]. It begins with a long 'e' sound that radiates a certain brightness. The soft 's' provides a pleasant start. The open ending '-lah' sounds warm and balanced. Overall, Selah conveys a harmonious and melodic impression - gentle, clear, and with a spiritual depth.

Popularity

Selah enjoys great popularity in Germany as a first name. Currently, it ranks 2,107th on the list of most common female first names. Its highest placement was achieved in 2023 with the rank of 1,661. In the last ten years, Selah has been chosen as a first name around 100 times, which places it at 2,473rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,856th.

Famous people

• Selah Strong (character from the TV series 'Turn - Washington's Spies')
• Selah Sue (singer-songwriter)