Nessa vs Selma

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Nessa

Girl #2,854 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"headland, promontory, cape"

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish Scottish Hebrew American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#2,854
Total SSA Count
58
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Ness

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nessa →

Selma

Girl #2,770 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"divine protection, helmet of the gods"

Origin: Germanic/Norse

Cultural Roots

Scandinavian German Arabic American Turkish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#2,770
Total SSA Count
61
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Sel, Elma

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Selma →

Popularity Comparison

Nessa Rank #2,854
Selma Rank #2,770

Selma is more popular, ranked #2770 vs #2854 for Nessa.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Nessa ___

  • Nessa Rose
  • Nessa Mae
  • Nessa Grace
  • Nessa Claire
  • Nessa Faye
  • Nessa Dawn

Selma ___

  • Selma Jane
  • Selma Rose
  • Selma Grace
  • Selma May
  • Selma Louise
  • Selma Ann

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Nessa

Fionnuala Saoirse Cillian Declan Aoife

If you choose Selma

Alma Vera Helga Marta Nora

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 Nessa or Selma more popular?

Selma is more popular, ranked #2770 compared to Nessa at #2854 in the United States.

What do Nessa and Selma mean?

Nessa means "headland, promontory, cape" (Irish/Scottish Gaelic origin). Selma means "divine protection, helmet of the gods" (Germanic/Norse origin).

Are Nessa and Selma boy or girl names?

Nessa is primarily a girl name. Selma is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

Selma vs Nessa Nessa vs Lynn Nessa vs Jayne Nessa vs Zayleigh Nessa vs Alethea
← Full profile: Nessa ← Full profile: Selma Browse all baby names