How to say it
SE · lah
ˈsɛl.ə
Feminine
Selah
Pause, lift up
What it means
Hebrew Selah, a musical or liturgical term used 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is disputed, possibly 'pause and consider,' 'lift up,' or a musical direction. The word's mystery is part of its appeal as a given name.
Selah is a Hebrew word that appears 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in the prophet Habakkuk, always as a parenthetical interjection. Its exact meaning is disputed: some scholars read it as a musical direction ('pause' or 'crescendo'), others as a liturgical instruction ('lift up your voice') or a Hebrew root meaning 'to suspend.' The word's enigmatic quality is part of its appeal. As a given name Selah picked up in the US in the late 2000s with broader Christian-name adoption from the deeper Old Testament; Lauryn Hill's daughter Selah Marley (born 1998) was an early high-profile use. It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Single short forms aren't common.
How to spell Selah
The standard spelling is Selah. Common variants include Sela, but Selah is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #216 in 2025, currently #216 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
SAY-lah or SEH-lah, two syllables. Both are accepted.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Selah Marley American model and singer, Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley's daughter
Spelling variants
- Sela
Names with the same feeling
See Selah from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Selah mean?
- Hebrew Selah, a musical or liturgical term used 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is disputed, possibly 'pause and consider,' 'lift up,' or a musical direction. The word's mystery is part of its appeal as a given name.
- What does Selah mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Selah means "Pause, lift up." Selah is a Hebrew word that appears 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in the prophet Habakkuk, always as a parenthetical interjection. Its exact meaning is disputed: some scholars read it as a musical direction ('pause' or 'crescendo'), others as a liturgical instruction ('lift up your voice') or a Hebrew root meaning 'to suspend.' The word's enigmatic quality is part of its appeal. As a given name Selah picked up in the US in the late 2000s with broader Christian-name adoption from the deeper Old Testament; Lauryn Hill's daughter Selah Marley (born 1998) was an early high-profile use. It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Single short forms aren't common.
- How do you pronounce Selah?
- Selah is pronounced ˈsɛl.ə. Say it as SE-lah, with the stress on the "se" syllable.
- How do you spell Selah?
- The standard spelling is Selah. Common spelling variants include Sela.
- Is Selah a boy or girl name?
- Selah is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Selah?
- Selah ranked #216 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.