Selvin is a variant of Selwyn, an Old English name usually explained as "friend in the hall" or "prosperous friend" from sele, hall, and wine, friend. The spelling Selvin is especially common in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which is where most American bearers trace their roots. In the United States Selvin peaked at number 2190 in 2021 and ranks at number 2872 in 2025.