How to say it
ce · CI · lia
/səˈsiːl.jə/
Feminine
Cecilia
Blind
What it means
Latin Caecilia, feminine of Caecilius, from caecus ('blind'). Saint Cecilia is the patron of music; her feast day on November 22 has anchored the name in choral and church-music tradition for centuries.
Cecilia comes from the Latin Caecilia (feminine of Caecilius), from caecus ('blind'). The Caecilii were a major Roman gens. Saint Cecilia, a 3rd-century Roman martyr, became the patron saint of music in the medieval period — tradition has her singing to God during her own martyrdom. Her feast day on November 22 is observed in choral and church-music communities worldwide; Britten, Purcell, and Handel all wrote pieces for it. Simon & Garfunkel's Cecilia (1970) gave the name secular American currency. The Italian and Spanish Cecilia, the English Cecily, and the German Cäcilie are all the same root. Common shorts: Cece, Celia.
Popularity over time
peaked at #108 in 2025, currently #108 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Cece is the universal modern short; Celia is the older alternate (and a standalone name in its own right). Cici and Cilla also circulate.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Cecilia 3rd-century Roman martyr, patron saint of music
- Cecilia (Simon & Garfunkel) 1970 single, the spirited radio anchor for the name
Spelling variants
- Cecily
- Celia
- Cäcilie
Names with the same feeling
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