Selah

At a Glance: Name: Selah – Meaning: a pause (a Biblical liturgical/musical direction) – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: SEE-lah

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Selah is a Hebrew word that shows up in the Bible as a pause — a liturgical or musical direction telling the reader to stop for a moment. As a name it's gender-neutral with a classic feel, and it's pronounced SEE-lah. If you like a name whose meaning is right there in the word itself, this is a straightforward one.

Meaning & Origin of Selah

Meaning: A pause (a biblical liturgical/musical direction).

Origin: Hebrew.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Selah

Phonetic: SEE-lah   IPA: /ˈsiːlɑː/

Popularity of Selah

Selah hit its highest point on record in 2024, ranking #280 with 1,122 babies given the name, in Social Security data that goes back to 1962.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1962–2024.

Make Selah Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Selah, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Asher
• Azariah
• Eden
• Elian
• Jordyn
• Micah

FAQ

What does the name Selah mean?

A pause (a biblical liturgical/musical direction). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Selah)

How do you pronounce Selah?

Selah is pronounced SEE-lah (IPA: /ˈsiːlɑː/).

Is Selah a popular name right now?

Selah is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #280 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1962–2024.)

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