Marsha vs Selma
Marsha and Selmacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Marsha was ranked #4709 and Selma #1705 among girls in England and Wales.
Marsha and Selma over time
Marsha and Selma appear together in 1 published list, across 13 years of shared records. Selma held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Marsha in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marsha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Selma in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2023
Marsha held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Selma in 11.
Highest recorded here: Marsha #1557 in 1999, Selma #1082 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Selma moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #1557 and #2444; by 2000 that had become #3912 and #1389.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Marsha #4709, Selma #1705.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Selma
Pairs where Selma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Heidi vs Selma
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Selma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #188 and #352 in 1945 to #437 and #11 in 2025.
Heidi · Selma · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Kristin vs Selma
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Selma rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #130 and #352 in 1945 to #251 and #11 in 2025.
Kristin · Selma · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Selma vs Solveig
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Selma rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #352 and #14 in 1945 to #11 and #28 in 2025.
Selma · Solveig · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Selma vs Hanne
Over 66 shared years in Norway · Girls, Selma rose about as far as Hanne fell — from #352 and #123 in 1945 to #11 and #318 in 2025.
Selma · Hanne · 66 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Marsha | Selma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4709 (2023) | Norway · Girls #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Marsha and Selma both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Marsha
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–1997
Highest recorded position: #348 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1978 (recorded 1976–1997).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls
Selma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #352 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2024 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls