The story behind Selwyn
From the Middle English form of Latin Silvanus. Also from the Old English given name Selewine, from sel (“hall”) + wine (“friend”). The places are named after bearers of the surname.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): S EH1 L W IH0 N
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Selwyn ranked #11774 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Selwyn
Sheldon
From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Shelton
From Old English scylfe (“deck, shelf”) + tun (“town”). Doublet of Skelton.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Stockton
From Old English stocc (“log; stump, tree trunk”) or stoc (“house, dwelling”) + tūn (“enclosure; settlement, town”). By surface analysis, stock + -ton. Doublet of Stoughton.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sutton
From Old English suþ (“south”) + tun (“town”). Doublet of Southtown.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Swithun
From Old English Swīþhūn.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alden
From Old English Ealdwine, from eald (“old”) + wine (“friend”); equivalent to Alwin. In some cases a variant of Haldane.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Selwyn
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alfredas
Learned borrowing from Latin Alfredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from Proto-West Germanic *Albirād. Compare Latvian Alfrēds.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Athelred
A male given name from Old English Æþelræd (“noble counsel, well-advised”), variant of Æthelred, Aethelred, or Ethelred.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Selwyn
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldous
Short form of Old English compound given names beginning with the element eald (“old”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldwyth
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length