Selene

S1E1L1E1N1E1
UK/sɪˈliːni/US/səˈlini/

proper noun

The goddess of the Moon.

UncommonScrabble 6

Meanings

proper noun
  1. Greekhuman sciencesThe goddess of the Moon.

    In the other, more famous story, the moon goddess Selene fell in love with him^([Endymion]) while he was asleep.

    2005, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology, volume 4, page 473
    2 more examples

    Balancing Arria is the union of Selene and Endymion. In the center of the main panel Selene descends from her chariot, whose horses are held by a nymph, to join Endymion, who lies to the right.

    1999, Mark P. O. Morford, Robert J. Lenardon, Classical Mythology, page 43

    This fragmentary front panel of a sarcophagus preserves two episodes from the story of Endymion and Selene. Selene, goddess of the moon, fell in love with Endymion, a beautiful young mortal.

    2010, J. Paul Getty Trust, Kenneth Lapatin, Karol Wight, editors, The J. Paul Getty Museum Handbook of the Antiquities Collection, 2nd edition, page 169
  2. A female given name from Ancient Greek.

    “Selene, I am going to get you out of bed and sit you in the chair for a minute. I want to put this heavy blanket and sheet on your bed so it will keep your new bedding clean.”

    2008, Diane M. Unger, A Colonial Lieutenant Beckons, page 143
    2 more examples

    In the opening sequence of the film Underworld (2004), the beautiful vampire assassin Selene, clad in tight black rubber and leather, is perched beside gargoyles on top of a soaring Gothic tower.

    2012, Johan Höglund, “10: Militarizing the Vampire: Underworld and the Desire of the Military Entertainment Complex”, in Tabish Khair, Johan Höglund, editors, Transnational and Postcolonial Vampires: Dark Blood, page 173

    We also made arrangements with my sister Marion and brother-in-law Richard for Selene to stay with them over long school holidays, like Thanksgiving and Easter, when the campus would be closed for a few days.

    2013, Arnold E. van Beverhoudt, Jr., Island Boy: My Life on the Rock, page 157
  3. poeticThe Moon.

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΣελήνη
  2. EnglishSelene

From the Ancient Greek Σελήνη (Selḗnē, proper noun), from σέλας (sélas, “light”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Σελήνη, Σελήνη
  • Σελήνη (Selḗnē)female given name
  • Σελήνη (Selḗnē)Greek moon goddess
Bulgarian Селена, Селена
  • Селенаfemale given name
  • СеленаGreek moon goddess
Catalan Selene, Selena
  • Selenefemale given name
  • Selenafemale given name
  • SeleneGreek moon goddess
Chinese Mandarin 塞琳, 塞勒涅
  • 塞琳 (Sàilín)female given name
  • 塞勒涅 (Sàilèniè)Greek moon goddess
Esperanto Seleno
  • SelenoGreek moon goddess
French Séléné, Sélène
  • SélénéGreek moon goddess
  • SélèneGreek moon goddess
Greek Σεληνη, Σελήνη
  • Σεληνη (Selini)female given name
  • Σελήνη (Selíni)Greek moon goddess
Hindi सिलीनी
  • सिलीनी (silīnī)Greek moon goddess
Italian Selene, Selena
  • Selenefemale given name
  • Selenafemale given name
  • Seleniafemale given name
  • SeleneGreek moon goddess
Japanese セレネ, セレーネー
  • セレネfemale given name
  • セレーネー (Serēnē)Greek moon goddess
Korean 셀레네
  • 셀레네 (Sellene)Greek moon goddess
Latin Selena
  • Selenafemale given name
Portuguese Selene
  • SeleneGreek moon goddess
Russian Селе́на, Селе́на
  • Селе́на (Seléna)female given name
  • Селе́на (Seléna)Greek moon goddess
Spanish Selene, Selena
  • Selenefemale given name
  • Selenafemale given name
  • SeleneGreek moon goddess
Ukrainian Селе́на
  • Селе́на (Seléna)Greek moon goddess

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with Selene

All rhymes →

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

Selene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Selene

MLA

“Selene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Selene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Selene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Selene.

Source: Selene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.