Selwyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#11,774

among boys · ↓2,910 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Selwyn

How common

1 in 284,679

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1961

43 babies

All-time total

1,418

#4,132 all-time among boys

First recorded

1904

in Social Security records

Selwyn popularity over time

1,418 babies have been named Selwyn since 1904, 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	–	6	6	1	–	#1,184
1910s	–	85	85	9	+1317%	#1,760
1920s	5	195	200	20	+135%	#1,291
1930s	–	134	134	13	-33%	#1,328
1940s	–	71	71	7	-47%	#2,190
1950s	–	141	141	14	+99%	#1,462
1960s	5	258	263	26	+87%	#1,292
1970s	–	129	129	13	-51%	#1,842
1980s	–	125	125	13	-3%	#3,244
1990s	–	130	130	13	+4%	#2,730
2000s	–	58	58	6	-55%	#7,726
2010s	–	61	61	6	+5%	#8,000
2020s (to 2025)	–	15	15	3	-59%	#8,864

The story of Selwyn

Selwyn is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,774 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1904, 1,418 American babies have been named Selwyn. Its peak came in 1961, when 43 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Selwyn stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Selwyn?

The median living Selwyn is about 52 years old; half are between 33 and 63. An estimated 900 people named Selwyn 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.

Selwyn 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	–	–	6	#11,774
2024	–	–	9	#8,864
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	8	#9,522
2017	–	–	5	#13,919
2016	–	–	6	#11,901
2015	–	–	8	#9,428
2014	–	–	5	#13,732
2013	–	–	10	#8,000
2012	–	–	6	#12,031
2011	–	–	6	#12,015
2010	–	–	7	#10,564
2009	–	–	8	#9,713
2008	–	–	8	#9,713
2007	–	–	10	#8,067
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	6	#11,226
2004	–	–	7	#9,768
2003	–	–	9	#7,726
2002	–	–	5	#12,190
2001	–	–	5	#12,007
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	12	#5,070
1990	–	–	14	#4,139
1985	–	–	10	#4,291
1980	–	–	10	#4,081
1975	–	–	10	#3,623
1970	–	–	24	#1,842
1965	–	–	29	#1,451
1960	–	–	23	#1,725
1955	–	–	14	#2,208
1950	–	–	9	#2,746
1945	–	–	6	#3,281
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	9	#2,688
1930	–	–	22	#1,596
1925	–	–	21	#1,738
1920	–	–	11	#2,736
1915	–	–	13	#2,160
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Selwyn

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Selwyn Lloyd British politician (1904–1978) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Selwyn?

The median living Selwyn is about 52 years old. Half of all living Selwyns are between 33 and 63 years old.

How many people named Selwyn are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Selwyn are alive in the United States, based on 1,418 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Selwyn mean?

From the Middle English form of Latin Silvanus.

How popular is the name Selwyn in 2025?

Selwyn ranked #11,774 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Selwyn?

1,418 babies have been named Selwyn in the United States since 1904, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Selwyn most popular?

Selwyn peaked in 1961, when 43 newborns received the name.

Is Selwyn a boy or girl name?

Selwyn is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Selwyn rising or falling?

Selwyn is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Selwyn?

Well-known people named Selwyn include Selwyn Lloyd (politician).

Names like Selwyn

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

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