- Cecilia Name Origin: Latin
- Pronunciation: sah-see-lee-ah, sah-seel-yah
- See what 16 people think about Cecilia
Cecilia Name Meaning
The original meaning of Cecilia is “blind” but it’s mostly associated with Saint Cecilia. The name Cecilia is often associated with music, grace, and devotion. It’s a name that evokes the feeling of beauty and elegance.
The Origins of Cecilia
The name Cecilia is of Latin origin, and it is derived from the Roman clan name Caecilius, which means “blind.” However, it is often associated with Saint Cecilia, a martyr from the 2nd or 3rd century AD, who is the patron saint of musicians and Church music.
Popularity of the Name Cecilia
Cecilia has been a popular name for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Some of the most famous Cecilias include:
- Saint Cecilia, a martyr from the 2nd or 3rd century AD, and the patron saint of musicians and Church music
- Cecilia Bartoli, an Italian mezzo-soprano
- Cecilia Cheung, a Hong Kong actress and singer
- Cecilia Suárez, a Mexican actress
In recent years, the name Cecilia has seen a steady popularity and it’s become a favorite for parents looking for a strong, classic and elegant name that has a historical significance.
Final Thoughts on the Name Cecilia
There are so many amazing people throughout history who have been named Cecilia, which just goes to show how powerful and accomplished the name can be.
In conclusion, Cecilia is a name with a rich history and a beautiful meaning. It has been borne by many notable figures throughout history and has seen a steady popularity in recent years. With its classic, elegant, and historical significance, Cecilia is a name that is sure to be a favorite for parents looking for a strong, classic and elegant name for their little one.
Cecilia Name Popularity
How popular is the name Cecilia? Here’s everything we know.
| Year | Rank | # Births | % Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 226 | 239 | 0.0679% |
| 1911 | 212 | 295 | 0.0792% |
| 1912 | 214 | 401 | 0.0795% |
| 1913 | 218 | 443 | 0.0781% |
| 1914 | 237 | 468 | 0.0672% |
| 1915 | 221 | 676 | 0.0744% |
| 1916 | 240 | 637 | 0.0659% |
| 1917 | 237 | 663 | 0.0663% |
| 1918 | 234 | 710 | 0.0662% |
| 1919 | 233 | 704 | 0.0672% |
| 1920 | 238 | 716 | 0.0644% |
| 1921 | 243 | 711 | 0.0621% |
| 1922 | 242 | 687 | 0.0617% |
| 1923 | 238 | 715 | 0.0638% |
| 1924 | 241 | 726 | 0.0625% |
| 1925 | 252 | 662 | 0.0586% |
| 1926 | 248 | 666 | 0.0606% |
| 1927 | 259 | 618 | 0.0558% |
| 1928 | 272 | 533 | 0.0498% |
| 1929 | 301 | 443 | 0.0428% |
| 1930 | 261 | 528 | 0.0505% |
| 1931 | 299 | 406 | 0.0411% |
| 1932 | 293 | 421 | 0.0426% |
| 1933 | 298 | 385 | 0.0413% |
| 1934 | 303 | 383 | 0.0396% |
| 1935 | 275 | 441 | 0.0454% |
| 1936 | 270 | 465 | 0.0483% |
| 1937 | 262 | 520 | 0.0528% |
| 1938 | 269 | 513 | 0.0501% |
| 1939 | 263 | 524 | 0.0515% |
| 1940 | 250 | 601 | 0.0565% |
| 1941 | 247 | 646 | 0.0574% |
| 1942 | 233 | 804 | 0.0637% |
| 1943 | 233 | 816 | 0.0625% |
| 1944 | 256 | 677 | 0.0546% |
| 1945 | 261 | 631 | 0.0517% |
| 1946 | 253 | 756 | 0.0512% |
| 1947 | 239 | 943 | 0.0565% |
| 1948 | 241 | 926 | 0.058% |
| 1949 | 241 | 921 | 0.0573% |
| 1950 | 249 | 888 | 0.0552% |
| 1951 | 247 | 930 | 0.0549% |
| 1952 | 250 | 957 | 0.0548% |
| 1953 | 253 | 1,004 | 0.0567% |
| 1954 | 268 | 955 | 0.0522% |
| 1955 | 268 | 974 | 0.053% |
| 1956 | 272 | 967 | 0.0512% |
| 1957 | 265 | 1,029 | 0.0535% |
| 1958 | 279 | 983 | 0.052% |
| 1959 | 273 | 1,025 | 0.0539% |
| 1960 | 282 | 1,008 | 0.0532% |
| 1961 | 296 | 934 | 0.0495% |
| 1962 | 276 | 1,031 | 0.0562% |
| 1963 | 315 | 844 | 0.047% |
| 1964 | 328 | 796 | 0.0452% |
| 1965 | 334 | 688 | 0.0421% |
| 1966 | 356 | 608 | 0.0389% |
| 1967 | 359 | 587 | 0.0387% |
| 1968 | 398 | 501 | 0.0334% |
| 1969 | 402 | 517 | 0.0336% |
| 1970 | 389 | 564 | 0.0354% |
| 1971 | 384 | 557 | 0.0371% |
| 1972 | 375 | 529 | 0.0388% |
| 1973 | 404 | 453 | 0.0349% |
| 1974 | 394 | 479 | 0.0369% |
| 1975 | 405 | 457 | 0.0356% |
| 1976 | 395 | 478 | 0.0371% |
| 1977 | 406 | 467 | 0.0346% |
| 1978 | 379 | 515 | 0.0383% |
| 1979 | 359 | 595 | 0.0422% |
| 1980 | 366 | 597 | 0.0408% |
| 1981 | 348 | 633 | 0.0431% |
| 1982 | 364 | 601 | 0.0402% |
| 1983 | 360 | 589 | 0.0399% |
| 1984 | 327 | 670 | 0.045% |
| 1985 | 359 | 613 | 0.0404% |
| 1986 | 352 | 637 | 0.0422% |
| 1987 | 332 | 705 | 0.0462% |
| 1988 | 342 | 691 | 0.0443% |
| 1989 | 311 | 781 | 0.0484% |
| 1990 | 327 | 803 | 0.0484% |
| 1991 | 293 | 925 | 0.0567% |
| 1992 | 275 | 981 | 0.0615% |
| 1993 | 283 | 950 | 0.0609% |
| 1994 | 289 | 925 | 0.0603% |
| 1995 | 253 | 1,089 | 0.0723% |
| 1996 | 272 | 1,036 | 0.0692% |
| 1997 | 294 | 948 | 0.0641% |
| 1998 | 286 | 1,026 | 0.0686% |
| 1999 | 286 | 1,071 | 0.0715% |
| 2000 | 284 | 1,107 | 0.0725% |
| 2001 | 269 | 1,134 | 0.0753% |
| 2002 | 269 | 1,141 | 0.0761% |
| 2003 | 271 | 1,142 | 0.0751% |
| 2004 | 284 | 1,143 | 0.075% |
| 2005 | 280 | 1,161 | 0.0759% |
| 2006 | 263 | 1,221 | 0.078% |
| 2007 | 274 | 1,220 | 0.0773% |
| 2008 | 269 | 1,224 | 0.0792% |
| 2009 | 262 | 1,212 | 0.0811% |
| 2010 | 276 | 1,172 | 0.0813% |
| 2011 | 239 | 1,288 | 0.0904% |
| 2012 | 212 | 1,434 | 0.1006% |
| 2013 | 218 | 1,408 | 0.0989% |
| 2014 | 199 | 1,625 | 0.1115% |
| 2015 | 177 | 1,760 | 0.121% |
| 2016 | 173 | 1,807 | 0.1253% |
| 2017 | 163 | 1,785 | 0.1279% |
| 2018 | 150 | 1,789 | 0.1302% |
| 2019 | 149 | 1,836 | 0.1356% |
| 2020 | 150 | 1,763 | 0.1385% |
| 2021 | 133 | 1,932 | 0.158% |
| 2022 | 146 | 1,979 | 0.15% |
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Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Cecilia
If you like Cecilia, you’ll love these other names like Cecilia.
What names are diminutives of Cecilia?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Cecilia sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Cecilia, but shorter.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cis |
A short diminutive form of Cecilia. |
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| Cissy |
A diminutive form of Cecilia. |
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| Sissie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
What names are variants of Cecilia?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Cecilia.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cacelia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceceilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Ceceley |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceceli |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecelia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecely |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecelyn |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecette |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceciel |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecil |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecila |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
| Cecile |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecilea |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecilee |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Ceciley |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceciliane |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecilie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecilija |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecilla |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecille |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecillia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecily |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cecilyann |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceclia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecyl |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cecyle |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
| Cecylia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cee |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
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| Ceil |
Blind; sixth; heaven |
Welsh |
|
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| Ceila |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceilagh |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceileh |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceileigh |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceilena |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Ceilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cela |
Blind; sixth; the moon; heavenly |
Welsh |
||
| Cele |
Blind; sixth; heaven |
Welsh |
|
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| Celia |
Heaven |
Latin |
|
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| Celie |
Blind; sixth; heavenly; the moon |
Welsh |
||
| Celli |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cellie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
| Cescelie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cescily |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cesia |
Blind; sixth; the moon |
Welsh |
|
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| Cesilie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cesya |
Man's defender; blind; sixth; the moon |
Welsh |
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| Cicelie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cicely |
Blind |
English |
|
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| Cici |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cicilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cicilie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cicily |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
|
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| Cile |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cili |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cilia |
|
|||
| Cilka |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
| Cilla |
Blind; sixth; ancient, venerable |
Welsh |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cilly |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Cissie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Kekilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Kikelia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Kikylia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sacilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sasilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sasilie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Secelia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Seelia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Seelie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Seely |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Selia |
Blind; sixth; the moon |
Welsh |
|
|
| Sesilia |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
| Sessaley |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesseelya |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sessile |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sessilly |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sessily |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sheila |
Blind |
Latin |
|
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| Sile |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sileas |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Silke |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Siseel |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sisely |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Siselya |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sisile |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sisiliya |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sissela |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
| Sissie |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sissy |
Short form of Melissa |
Latin |
|
What names sound like Cecilia?
If you like how Cecilia sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Cecilia.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sicili |
Blind; sixth |
Welsh |
||
| Sicilia | ||||
| Sicillia |
What names are similar to Cecilia?
Find a name that’s like Cecilia, but just a little bit different.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silja |
Scandinavian |
|||
| Zelia |
Latin |
|
Lists With Cecilia
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Cecilia.
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Brazil contains its own fascinating culture as well as a blend of those from around the world, making Brazilian girl names some of the most diverse on Earth. Check out our list of popular picks, famous faces, and so much more.
-
Colombian Girl Names With Bountiful Beauty // 108 names
Colombian girl names offer a peek at the nation’s stunning lands, from its dense rainforests to its vibrant city streets. Explore our list of them.
-
Sicilian Girl Names With Old World Appeal // 113 names
Capture the beauty of the Mediterranean and so much more with Sicilian girl names. From common monikers to rare place names, we have them all on our list of Sicilian sweethearts.
-
Tough Girl Names for Your Little Firecracker // 181 names
Tough girl names aren’t going to be bossed around through life. These mighty monikers are ready to call the shots and forge their own path. Discover them with us.
-
Catholic Girl Names to Honor Your Beliefs // 227 names
Catholic girl names range from timeless treasures to ultra-unique finds. Check out our collection of these devout darlings.
Siblings of Cecilia
Mamas with kids named Cecilia also have kids with these names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis |
Famous warrior |
French |
|
16 Comments
Idaho Cecilia
My name is Cecilia, and i love it despite it meaning. Even if some of my friends don’t like it meaning. It’s my grandma name and she is very happy that I have much a pretty nice name.
Cecilia
My name is Cecilia, I love the name, it sounds beautiful but I got bullied cos if the meaning
Buh guess wat?
I don’t care
I use the different meanings for different pple
I still love me
My name is beautiful so am I ?
Margaret
Cecilia~ It is a family name for both my husbands and my family, so I am used to it and perhaps “seasoned” to it, but I think it sounds so beautifully feminine. We named our daughter this for family members and for a friend who recently passed away, but even besides we both love Saint Cecilia and wanted her patronage for our little girl.
What do I dislike about the name? Only that it seems to be so popular right now! I had wanted to wait some years before we tried using Cecilia but it meant a lot to my husband to use it for our first little baby. <3
Shelby Petretto
My mom is named Cecilia and she’s always been nicknamed Ceilie but she never wanted to be called CeCe
Lydia
We heard our priest give a homily on St. Cecilia on the feast day of the saint, and we were both struck by her story as well as t he simple grace of her name. Almost at the same time we looked as each other and said “We should name our first daughter Cecilia!”
I love that her name means “Lily of Heaven,” but I am not so thrilled with the common nick-name for Cecilia, Cece. But who knows, maybe that nick-name will grow on me!
Jen
My grandad’s name was Cecil and I am a musician. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music and it is written about her that every time she faced fear or death in her life, “she sang to the Lord in her heart.” I let that be the theme of my pregnancy, that anytime I felt fear or anxiety I tried to remember to praise the Lord for this blessing and I hope my daughter takes that into her own life.
Eseosa AGHEDO
My friend is Cecilia she is nice, and she likes talking
Merarys Rios
My paternal grandmothers name.
Christina
I named my daughter Cecilia after my patron saint I was confirmed with. She is the patron saint of music and I wanted to share that love for God with her by choosing this beautiful name for her.
Kaitlyn
I named my daughter Cecilia after the patron saint of music and singers, St. Cecilia. I’ve loved the name since I used that saint as my confirmation saint for confirmation, I’m Catholic, in the 8th grade. I’ve wanted it to be a girl’s name for as long as I can remember. We affectionately call her Cece for short.
Kara
I like old fashion unique names. It was on my list of names and my husband approved it. It is a classic name and my husbands family who only speak Spanish can say it. Her middle name is Jasmin
Brittany
Cecilia Raye is named after her great grandfather’s.
My grandfather Cecil passed away last year and we were very close, my grandfather Raymond is still thankfully with us.
Raye is also a variation of my stepfather who has been a dad and is a awesome papa, middle name. As well as being the name of my husbands late grandfather. So our daughter has a very special name. ?
Brittany
I saw your post and had to reply, my husband and I found out we were having a girl and Cecilia has always been one of my favorite girl names. What made me reply to your post, I decided a couple weeks ago that we were gonna give her the middle name Ray after my grandfather and uncle Raymond. I was never stuck on the spelling I wanted to keep the Y so thank you for the idea of Raye!! My eyes popped out when I saw your post!
Mama Otilia
I chose the name Cecilia because it is a mix of our names, mine Otilia and my husband’s Cesare.
Maria
St. Cecilia
Otilia
Hello, moms all over the world! I chose the name Cecilia, because it is a mix of both of our names: Cesare (my husband) + Otilia (me) = Cecilia.