Total births
688
Unisex name · since 1909
Selby
Selby has 688 recorded births since 1909 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1922 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 688
- total births
- 1909–2025
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
Selby is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 688 have been recorded since 1909.
Social Security Administration records show Selby recorded 688 times among boys since 1909, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1909 to 2025.
- 688 total births
- 1909–2025 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 21% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
688 boys have been named Selby since 1909, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2025.
- 688
- total births
- 1909–2025
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Selby was born in this single decade.
1922
Single peak year
24 babies were named Selby in 1922 - its busiest year on record.
Selby's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Selby's SSA record in two at 1952 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1909, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1922 peak of 24, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Selby at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1922
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1909
Selby popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1909–2025
- Peak year (1922)
- 24
- Annual births at peak, across 117 years of records
Selby popularity over time - girls
293 total births recorded since 1930 (Selby as girls' name)
Selby by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Selby's strongest decade.
142 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Selby births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
82 births
- 1920s
1920s
142 births
- 1930s
1930s
108 births
- 1940s
1940s
75 births
- 1950s
1950s
78 births
- 1960s 53
1960s
53 births
- 1970s 40
1970s
40 births
- 1980s 17
1980s
17 births
- 1990s 54
1990s
54 births
- 2000s 19
2000s
19 births
- 2010s 10
2010s
10 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 142 births (21% of all-time use).
How Selby compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Selby's total volume
Selby vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Selby by state
Where Selby concentrates geographically, total births since 1909
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 16 | 2.3% |
North Carolina share of Selby's total US births 2.3%
16 of 688 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Selby? ▼
Since 1909, Social Security records show 688 babies named Selby. The most recent recorded year was 2025. Its busiest year on record was 1922, with 24 births.
When was Selby most popular? ▼
Selby was most popular in the 1920s decade with 142 total births. The single peak year was 1922.
Where is Selby most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Selby are North Carolina (16 births).
Is Selby a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Selby is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 688 births, and as a girl's name it has 293 births.
How long has the name Selby been used? ▼
Selby has been recorded in Social Security data since 1909, spanning 117 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Selby? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Selvin, Selwyn, Selim, Seldon, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Selby's data
- Selby's decade-level peak was the 1920s (142 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Selbys (16 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Selby
Nearby Names Like Selby
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Selby
Selvin Boy
#2450 1,548 births
Selwyn Boy
#8352 1,408 births
Selim Boy
#2246 1,023 births
Seldon Boy
988 births
Selmer Boy
759 births
Compare Selby side by side: Selby vs Selvin Selby vs Selwyn Selby vs Selim
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1909–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Selby: Baby Name Since 1909 - 688 Births, Peak 1922." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/selby. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Selby draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.