Total births
373
Boys' name · since 1911
Selden
Selden has 373 recorded births since 1911 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1927 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 373
- total births
- 1911–1978
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Selden sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 373 recorded since 1911.
Social Security Administration records show Selden recorded 373 times among boys since 1911, 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 1911 to 1978.
- 373 total births
- 1911–1978 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
373 boys have been named Selden since 1911, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1978.
- 373
- total births
- 1911–1978
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Selden was born in this single decade.
1927
Single peak year
16 babies were named Selden in 1927 - its busiest year on record.
Selden's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Selden splits its recorded history at 1933: 39% of all births land in the more recent half, 61% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1911 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1927 peak of 16 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Selden at a glance
Last recorded 1978Peak year
1927
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1911
Selden popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–1978
- Peak year (1927)
- 16
- Annual births at peak, across 68 years of records
Selden by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Selden's strongest decade.
115 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Selden births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
83 births
- 1920s
1920s
115 births
- 1930s
1930s
73 births
- 1940s
1940s
67 births
- 1950s 19
1950s
19 births
- 1960s 11
1960s
11 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 115 births (31% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Selden? ▼
Since 1911, Social Security records show 373 babies named Selden. The most recent recorded year was 1978. Its busiest year on record was 1927, with 16 births.
When was Selden most popular? ▼
Selden was most popular in the 1920s decade with 115 total births. The single peak year was 1927.
How long has the name Selden been used? ▼
Records for Selden go back to 1911, giving 68 years of history through 1978.
What names are similar to Selden? ▼
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 Selden's data
- Selden's decade-level peak was the 1920s (115 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Selden
Nearby Names Like Selden
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Selden
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 Selden side by side: Selden vs Selvin Selden vs Selwyn Selden 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, 1911–1978 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Selden: Baby Name Since 1911 - 373 Births, Peak 1927." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/selden. 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 Selden 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.