Magdalena vs Selene

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Magdalena

Girl #836 Most Popular 4 Syllables

Meaning

"woman from Magdala"

Origin: Hebrew Migdal (tower)

Cultural Roots

Spanish Polish Czech Slovak German Latin American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#836
Total SSA Count
321
Syllables
4
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Magda, Lena, Maggie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Magdalena →

Selene

Girl #674 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"moon, light"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Greek Italian Spanish French

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#674
Total SSA Count
424
Syllables
3
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Selly, Lena, Sel

Playground Safety Score

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Selene' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Full profile for Selene →

Popularity Comparison

Magdalena Rank #836
Selene Rank #674

Selene is more popular, ranked #674 vs #836 for Magdalena.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Magdalena ___

  • Magdalena Sofia
  • Magdalena Elena
  • Magdalena Rose
  • Magdalena Victoria
  • Magdalena Clara
  • Magdalena Isabel

Selene ___

  • Selene Rose
  • Selene Marie
  • Selene Grace
  • Selene Aurora
  • Selene Jade
  • Selene Faye

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Magdalena

Sebastiana Catalina Rafael Sebastian Matthias

If you choose Selene

Athena Chloe Iris Luna Apollo

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Magdalena or Selene more popular?

Selene is more popular, ranked #674 compared to Magdalena at #836 in the United States.

What do Magdalena and Selene mean?

Magdalena means "woman from Magdala" (Hebrew Migdal (tower) origin). Selene means "moon, light" (Greek origin).

Are Magdalena and Selene boy or girl names?

Magdalena is primarily a girl name. Selene is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Magdalena ← Full profile: Selene Browse all baby names