Comments on: Name of the Day: Cecily

By: Alphabet: C is for Girls | Appellation Mountain

Alphabet: C is for Girls | Appellation Mountain — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:59:21 +0000

[...] Cecily/Cicely – These frilly, feminine variants of Cecilia sound surprisingly current. After legendary African American actress Cicely Tyson appeared in the 1972 movie Sounder, Cicely spent two years in the Top 1000, peaking at #608 in 1974. It has since retreated to obscurity, though comedian Sandra Bernhardt chose Cicely for her daughter’s name. Northern Exposure fans will remember the show was set in Cecily, Alaska; however, the place name has not helped the popularity of this pretty version of the moniker, since Cecily has not been in the Top 1000 since 1991 – a year after the show debuted. For even bolder parents, there’s also the place name Sicily to consider – but that’s another letter entirely. [...]

By: Cecily

Cecily — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:47:25 +0000

Yes, alot of people call me Sicily…..I think they can’t hear the subtle difference between that and Cecily. Once I spell it for people, they usually get it.

By: Liesal

Liesal — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:01:50 +0000

I am in love with Celcilia. It’s my #1 pick right now. Not too sure on Cecily. Whenever I say it in my head I expect it to be spelled Sicily.

By: Cecily

Cecily — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:36:35 +0000

My name is Cecily…….so it was interesting to read this blog. . . . . Named after St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, in part because my Father is a musician. My Mother sought unusual names for her 8 children because she had 6 other classmates named Dorothy. My name never became popular as did some of my siblings …Megan, Seth, Jeremy, Lise, Jonathan, ….whose names were unique at the time. My relatives called me Ceci for the longest time til I put up a stink, but Aunt MaryAnn still calls me that. Now, I don’t mind because it’s endearing. I like my name because it is very different…..maybe sounds pretentious, but I’m not……I’m very down to earth (Virgo), friendly, fun and funny…I found out the name is Gaelic origin just last year. After having this name since 1953, I have only known of, met, or heard of half a dozen other Cecily’s. I don’t like the name Cicely, it seems mis-spelled. I knew someone named Sessily (her Mother made it up)….In graduate school, one professor thought I was the black student in the class (think Cicely Tyson, actress), sometimes people think I’m from Italy (Sicily)…so there can always be confusion but, oh well, I have been called ALOT of things, including cess-pool, Cecil, so-silly, Sesilie, and Celeste. when I travel in Spain or Mexico, my spanish name is Celia because it sounds much nicer and simpler than Cecilia. Anyway, good luck choosing a name.

My official birth certificate name is: Cecily Ann Mary (gotta get the Virgin in there)…..

By: SophieGray

SophieGray — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:01:08 +0000

Ooh.. I adore Cecily.. she’s so pretty, yet retains more spunk than Cecilia, IMO.
Despite a neice named Cecelia, Cecily remains in a pretty high spot on my list, featuring in my current top 3 combos: Beatrix Cecily Jane.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:18:05 +0000

LOVE Cecilia/Cecelia, but i am not too sure about Cecily.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:38:30 +0000

Love Cecily! It’s an Alice in Wonderland type name to me. Eternally youthful, sort of, but not out of place on a grown woman. I prefer Cecilia because it’s easier to match and more directly honors a Cecilia, but Cecily overtakes it sometimes.

By: Kate, Katharine, whatever...

Kate, Katharine, whatever... — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:36:07 +0000

Thanks for the suggestions Lola, I’m inclined to find Annette the most appealing of those suggestions too, it sounds a lot less dated than it might of even five years ago.

Another, I know exactly what you mean and have this problem with quite a few names. Let me explain, I like Cecily simply for its own sake, without any attempt at trying to impress anyone or trying to be different, I simply adore underused- fresh-sounding yet historical appellations.

However, I am quite aware that she could sound a bit on the pretentious side. In the UK, Sloanes of my age (The UK equivalent of the Preppies) sport names like Henrietta (Hen), Camilla (Mills or Millie), Clementine (Clemmie), Arabella/Annabelle (Bella), Imogen (Immy), Victoria (Vicks or Tor), Philippa (Pippa), Isabella (Issy), Olivia (Livs or Livvy) and Matilda (Tilly, Tills). And as a result, many of these names have a social cache attached to them (Henrietta, Camilla & Arabella for example). Although it must be noted that some have become increasingly mainstream in the last few years (think: Olivia, Isabella and latterly, Matilda).

If you take a peak at the Telegraph or Times birth annoucements (a great barometer of these things) you will notice a smattering of these names plus some new ones of which Cecily is one such. It’s impossible to tell which of these names will remain very ‘elite-sounding’ as time passes and which will become more mainstream; but I don’t actually think it really matters. Some of these names might sound a trifle pretentious but almost without exception – all are attractive, historic names that will stand the test of time.

By: Another

Another — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:47:39 +0000

This is one of those names that makes me roll my eyes. I think it’s extremely pretentious! To me it sounds like the type of name someone might pick if they were trying to impress someone, or if they were trying to be classy (a word I can not stand). I don’t like it. I don’t like Cicely, either, although it doesn’t strike that same chord of pretentious-name-choosery – I just don’t like the sound of Cicely. Oh well, I guess I can’t love them all!

By: Lola

Lola — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:12:27 +0000

Kate, Jeanette, Lyonette, Garnet, Annette/Nanette and if you don’t mind a modern spin with a throwback nickname: Monet might work too. (it’s a stretch, yes, but definitely doable). Are on my lists, somewhere. Personally, I’m finding Annette rather attractive again. And the connection to the courageous & lovely Ms. Funicello can’t be beat!

and thanks! Emmy Jo, I appreciate the back up. Nice to hear my instincts are right on.