Etymology of the Name Selma: Cross-Cultural Onomastic Perspectives from Semitic, European, and Balkan Traditions

Željko Stanojević
Independent Researcher in Hebrew Linguistics and Biblical Philology
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184

Abstract

This paper investigates the origin and historical development of the personal name Selma within a broad comparative framework encompassing Semitic, European, and Balkan linguistic environments. The analysis combines historical-comparative linguistics with onomastic and sociolinguistic approaches in order to identify the structural and cultural mechanisms underlying the name’s transmission.

The primary etymological stratum is associated with the Semitic root s-l-m, attested in both Arabic and Hebrew, where it encodes meanings related to peace, integrity, and completeness. Within Islamic naming traditions, the name emerges as part of a stable lexical network that has persisted across time and geographical regions.

A distinct European trajectory is examined through the literary reception of the Ossianic corpus, where Selma appears as a toponym before being reinterpreted as a personal name. This process illustrates the transformation of literary forms into anthroponymic units within Germanic and Northern European naming systems.

In the Balkan context, the name reflects patterns of historical transmission shaped by Ottoman influence and subsequent integration into South Slavic linguistic structures. Its persistence in this region is supported by phonological compatibility and cultural continuity.

The study advances a multi-layered interpretative model, demonstrating that Selma should be understood as a product of overlapping linguistic and cultural processes rather than a single etymological origin.

Keywords

Selma; etymology; onomastics; anthroponymy; Semitic languages; Arabic; Hebrew; Balkan studies; linguistic contact; cultural transmission; naming systems

Overview

This study approaches the name Selma as a complex onomastic entity shaped by intersecting historical and linguistic influences. It challenges mono-causal explanations by demonstrating that the name’s current distribution is the result of multiple transmission pathways operating across different cultural domains.

At the core of the analysis is the Semitic root s-l-m (Arabic: س-ل-م; Hebrew: ש-ל-ם), which provides the principal semantic and etymological foundation. This layer is supported by extensive historical continuity and integration within Islamic naming conventions.

The European dimension of the name is treated as a secondary but significant development, particularly in relation to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literary culture. The Ossianic tradition played a key role in introducing Selma into European naming practices, where it subsequently acquired independent status.

The Balkan evidence further illustrates how names function within contact zones, undergoing adaptation while retaining identifiable structural features. In this context, Selma exemplifies the interaction between linguistic compatibility and cultural transmission.

By situating the name within these overlapping frameworks, the study contributes to a broader theoretical understanding of how personal names operate as carriers of historical and cultural continuity.

Access to the Paper

Related Publications

Stanojević, Ž. (2001) O jeziku Srba i Jevreja: trojako prisustvo Jevreja među Slovenima: međusobni uticaji severozapadnih semitskih i slovenskih jezika. Zenodo. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18227673

Stanojević, Ž. (2026) Onomastikon biblijskih imena. Tom I: Starozavetna imena (Preview edition). Zenodo. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18796670

Stanojević, Ž. (2026) Etymology of the Name David: A Semitic and Slavic Onomastic Interface. Zenodo. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19200225

Field Classification

Onomastics • Historical Linguistics • Semitic Studies • Contact Linguistics • Balkan Linguistics

Author Identifier

Željko Stanojević
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184

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