Riona vs Selma
Riona 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Riona was ranked #258 and Selma #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Riona was ranked #2574 and Selma #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Riona and Selma over time
Riona and Selma appear together in 1 published list, across 27 years of shared records. Selma held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Riona 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.
Riona 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Riona and Selma changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2574 and #2000.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Riona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Selma in 22.
Highest recorded here: Riona #1393 in 1999, Selma #1082 in 2005.
The order changed in 2013: Selma moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #2338 and #2521; by 2013 that had become #4050 and #1707.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Riona #2574, Selma #2000.
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 | Riona | 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, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Norway · Girls #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Riona and Selma both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Riona
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 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 recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #169 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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