Selma
Meaning
"divine protection, helmet of the gods"
Origin: Germanic/Norse
Cultural Roots
Quick Stats
- Popularity Rank
- #2,770
- Total SSA Count
- 61
- Syllables
- 2
- Formality
- Moderate
- Nicknames
- Sel, Elma
Baby Name Comparison — 2026
"divine protection, helmet of the gods"
Origin: Germanic/Norse
"good, goodness"
Origin: Hebrew
Tova is more popular, ranked #2661 vs #2770 for Selma.
Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.
Historical trend data not available for this comparison.
Names that pair well as siblings.
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.
1. Which style feels more like your family?
Tova is more popular, ranked #2661 compared to Selma at #2770 in the United States.
Selma means "divine protection, helmet of the gods" (Germanic/Norse origin). Tova means "good, goodness" (Hebrew origin).
Selma is primarily a girl name. Tova is primarily a girl name.