Selby: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,573

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Selby

How common

1 in 341,615

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1993

26 babies

All-time total

981

#6,513 all-time among boys

First recorded

1909

in Social Security records

Selby popularity over time

981 babies have been named Selby since 1909, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	5	5	1	–	#1,653
1910s	–	82	82	8	+1540%	#1,759
1920s	–	142	142	14	+73%	#1,583
1930s	16	108	124	12	-13%	#1,914
1940s	5	75	80	8	-35%	#2,189
1950s	17	78	95	10	+19%	#2,424
1960s	–	53	53	5	-44%	#3,280
1970s	5	40	45	5	-15%	#4,102
1980s	20	17	37	4	-18%	#5,384
1990s	86	54	140	14	+278%	#3,984
2000s	70	19	89	9	-36%	#10,474
2010s	61	10	71	7	-20%	#13,731
2020s (to 2025)	13	5	18	3	-58%	#13,573

The story of Selby

Selby is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,573 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1909, 981 American babies have been named Selby, about 70% boys and 30% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1993, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Selby stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Selby?

The median living Selby is about 33 years old; half are between 21 and 64. An estimated 600 people named Selby are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Selby year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	5	#13,573
2024	6	#14,994	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	7	#13,364	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	9	#11,296	–	–
2017	7	#13,879	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	9	#11,696	–	–
2014	7	#14,322	5	#13,731
2013	9	#11,827	–	–
2012	7	#14,728	–	–
2011	5	#19,095	5	#13,999
2010	8	#13,266	–	–
2009	13	#9,308	–	–
2008	7	#15,124	7	#10,835
2007	9	#12,492	–	–
2006	11	#10,484	7	#10,474
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	11	#9,793	–	–
2003	9	#11,173	5	#12,451
2002	10	#10,103	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	11	#7,975	7	#7,664
1990	7	#11,144	5	#9,275
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	7	#4,168
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	8	#3,296
1955	6	#5,723	7	#3,463
1950	5	#5,978	9	#2,745
1945	–	–	5	#3,712
1940	–	–	6	#3,414
1935	–	–	14	#2,016
1930	5	#5,152	8	#3,254
1925	–	–	13	#2,415
1920	–	–	15	#2,208
1915	–	–	9	#2,795
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Selby, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Selby?

The median living Selby is about 33 years old. Half of all living Selbys are between 21 and 64 years old.

How many people named Selby are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Selby are alive in the United States, based on 981 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Selby mean?

From Old Norse selja (“willow, sallow”) + býr (“settlement, farm”).

How popular is the name Selby in 2025?

Selby ranked #13,573 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Selby?

981 babies have been named Selby in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Selby most popular?

Selby peaked in 1993, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Selby a boy or girl name?

Selby is used for both: about 30% of babies named Selby have been girls and 70% boys.

Is the name Selby rising or falling?

Selby has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Selby

Names that sound and feel close to Selby: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Selby with similar names → More names starting with S →