Selah

Meaning uncertain; often interpreted as a musical pause.

Selah carries a small mystery within its five letters. The Hebrew word appears among the verses of the Psalms, where it is usually understood as a musical or liturgical direction. A pause is one possible interpretation; the precise instruction has not been securely established. Its connection with song and worship is clearer than any single translation. As a feminine given name, Selah feels spare and softly lyrical. In the English reading SEE-luh, the long first vowel flows into a light ending, giving the name a gentle two-part rhythm. It may appeal for its biblical background, its musical associations, or simply that uncluttered sound. The suggestion of a moment to pause adds a reflective image without needing to be its literal meaning.

Etymology: Selah comes from a Hebrew term in the biblical Psalms and Habakkuk. It is generally understood as a direction connected with musical or liturgical performance, though its precise function is uncertain.