Selby is an unisex given name, of Old English origin, meaning 'willow tree'. It gained popularity as a given name in the late 20th century, likely due to its use in literature and media, such as Selby, the character in the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. The name Selby is also associated with places, most notably Selby in North Yorkshire, England, which was historically known as 'Setlingburh', meaning 'settlement of the people of Setla'. As a surname, Selby is of habitational origin, derived from any of several places so named, including those in Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire. The name has been recorded since the 13th century, with early instances including Richard de Selbye in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. Today, Selby is used as a given name for both boys and girls, although it remains more common for males. It is sometimes associated with the middle name or surname Selden, which shares similar roots but has different etymology.
The name Selby experienced fluctuations in its popularity over the course of a century, with peaks in certain years and valleys in others. The highest number of births occurred in 1922, with 24 babies named Selby born that year. However, there were also several years with only five or six births, indicating periods when the name was less common. Overall, there were a total of 683 births recorded for the name Selby during this period.