The baby name Cecilia combines timeless appeal with a rich and storied musical pedigree.
Thanks to Dan for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
CAECILIUS
If meaning matters, the baby name Cecilia comes up a little short.
It comes from the Roman family name Caecilius, from a Latin word meaning blind.
The first Caeculus was the son of Vulcan in Roman myth, abandoned by his mother as a child, but eventually growing up to be a king. The family claimed descent from Caeculus, and female members of the family answered to Caecilia.
Among their members were many consuls and other powerful leaders of the late Roman republic.
The Roman clan name is also one possible source for Cecil. Though chances are Cecil comes from a Welsh given name. And it’s the surname – and the noble Cecil family – that inspired the surname’s adoption as a first. The family’s roots are Welsh, and the name started out as Seisyll, from another Roman family name, meaning sixth.
Cecilia might also be used as a feminine form of Cecil.
SAINT CECILIA
Plenty of ancient names survived, so the baby name Cecilia might’ve endured, just like Julia, Claudia, and Octavia.
But this name’s popularity has far more to do with the saint.
Saint Cecilia also deserves credit for reshaping our perception of the name’s meaning.
According to legend, Cecilia was a faultless noblewoman of Rome – born blind – sometimes in the second or third century. A devout Christian, she convinced her pagan husband to convert. Both died for their faith under persecution.
So where does music come in? During their wedding, Cecilia said that she sang to God in her heart.
Legends around the martyr saint were firmly established by the Middle Ages, and she’s been strongly associated for at least a millennia, and possibly twice as long. Cecilia is considered the patron saint of music.
Other associated meanings include:
- Another Catholic saint, Therese of Lisieux, referred to her as “she of the shining light” in a poem she wrote.
- In Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the Second Nun’s Tale lists a long string of possible alternate meanings for Cecilia, including Lily of Heaven. Scholars speculate that Chaucer might have had access to more extensive accounts of Cecilia’s story. Again, though, it might be more literary embellishment than actual etymology.
SINGING OUT
Handel composed the Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, one of many works dedicated to her. Rome is home to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – one of the oldest musical institutions, founded in 1585.
But even outside of a religious context, we tend to associate the baby name Cecilia with music.
When it comes to names in song titles, most of us will think of Simon & Garfunkel’s enduring single “Cecilia” from their 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. It’s a bouncy, upbeat song. And while it’s not exactly a lullaby or a sing-along for your toddler, it’s the kind of song that adds to the name’s appeal.
THROUGH THE AGES
While the baby name Cecilia doesn’t appear on lists of classic girl names, it has a long and steady history of use across languages and cultures.
History lists Cecilia of Normandy as the eldest daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders, born around 1056.
The Normans brought the name to England, where the everyday use form would’ve been Cecily, while the Latinate form Cecilia would’ve been reserved for written records.
In twelfth century Sweden, King Canute I married Cecilia Johansdotter. Her biography – in fact even her name – is poorly documented. But other Swedish royals have answered to the name since then.
Factor in Cecile and Cecilie, and plenty of royal families have used variations of the name.
Popular eighteenth century novelist Frances Burney penned a novel called Cecilia, or Memoirs on an Heiress, in 1782.
In more recent years, characters named Cecilia have appeared in novels-turned-movies The Virgin Suicides and Atonement. It’s also the name Jim and Pam gave their daughter on The Office.
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S GRANDMA
The name has enjoyed steady, if sparing, use, across the English-speaking world.
One notable Cecilia? The grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II.
Born to a thoroughly aristocratic family, Cecilia Bowes-Lyon became the Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne by marriage. Her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, married Prince Albert, the Duke of York. When Albert’s older brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne, Albert became King George VI. That made her Queen Elizabeth.
Their firstborn daughter, Princess Elizabeth of York, became her father’s heir. When she assumed the throne in 1952, her mother became known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, to avoid confusion.
The Bowes-Lyon family has used the name Cecilia for succeeding generations, but it’s yet to be heard in the royal family.
CELIA and CECE
Strictly speaking, Celia is a separate name. It comes from yet another Roman clan name, this one meaning heaven. But it is sometimes heard as a short form of Cecilia.
Cece – or Ceci or Cici – are options, too. So are Celie and Sissie/Cissie.
Sheila is the Irish form of the name.
BY THE NUMBERS
With names like Olivia and Amelia and Sophia and in the current US Top Ten, it’s not surprising that Cecilia, too, is on the rise.
As of 2021, the baby name Cecilia ranks #132 – it’s most popular ever!
One factor may be spelling. A century ago, Cecelia and Cecilia were used in nearly equal numbers. That makes true popularity tough to gauge.
As Catholic saint names go, the 3rd-century martyr is accessible – both for current style and for the connection to music. That may influence some families to consider the name.
But with Cecilia’s timeless style and on-trend sound, long history of use and relatively uncommon status? It’s not surprising to hear more parents considering this lovely, musical choice.
What do you think of the baby name Cecilia?
First published on January 17, 2012, this post was revised and re-published on July 3, 2021 and again on August 17, 2022.
I absolutely love Simon and Garfunkel and “Cecilia” is one of my favorites – actually 80% of their catalog are favorites – but honestly, on the basis of the song alone, I’d use the name. Being as I’m not religious, the name is pretty much limited to connections to the song and “The Office.” I don’t know any Cecilias, but I do know a Cilia – spelled with the ‘i’ in there – she’s in middle school.
I like Cecilia. I love the story of St. Cecilia, but the meaning really does bug me.
It doesn’t actually mean ‘blind’ but rather ‘the way for the blind.’ If you still hate that meaning ‘Celia’ means ‘heavenly’ so you could use that name.
My great-great grandmother was Cecilia, which I always thought was pretty but the meaning totally turned me off. However, it doesn’t matter as we ended up with all boys!
I adore Cecilia, as well as Cecile, Cecily and Celia. My step-grandma is called Celie (don’t know what her real name is), and I have always thought of using one of the above as a tribute to her.
namelover, I always thought that the traditional spelling of Cecilia comes from it being a feminization of Cecil, which makes sense to me.
Same here, I always thought that Cecilia and Cecil shared the same roots. Granted, the only thing I know about Cecil’s meaning is that it’s Welsh for ‘6th child’ or something like that. Cecil is yet another family name. My great-great uncle was the first Cecil, and then my great uncle (who WAS the 6th child out of 11!) and his son. I’ve always loved the name and wouldn’t mind having a little Cecil of my own…which brings me back to my point…since I thought that Cecilia was the female form of Cecil, I’ve thought about Cecilia….but now I’m unsure.
Cecil has a funny story. He and Cecilia do come from the same roots – Caecilius. But the Cecil family derives their name from Sextus – sixth – via a Welsh variant. So the names are the same, but Cecil has another layer to consider.
I know a little Cecilia who goes by Cece. She is precious. I think this name is definitely a good alternative to the too common but lovely Amelia and Olivia. It’s a bit frilly but perfect for parents looking for a feminine name with a great nickname.
Dumb question. Something I’ve never been able to understand is the spelling. Why is the Celia part of Cecilia spelled Cilia?
Some people (such as my family) spell Cecilia as Cecelia.
My first daughter’s name is Cecelia and her toddler nickname is Cece. When she is grown she may choose Celia. There are two common ways to spell the name: Cecilia and Cecelia. They are pronounced a little different too. My grandmother was Cecelia, with an “e”. I think the Ceciilia, with an “i”, spelling and pronunciation of the name is more common in South America, while my heritage is more German. Friends of mine from S. America say the common nickname for the Cecilia version of the name there is Cisa (Cee-Sa). Anyway, I obviously love the name since I named my first after it. (Cece’s younger sister is named Penelope, and her nickname is “Poppy”).
I’ve always loved Cecilia. I like her sound and the fact that she’s the patron saint of music. In Mexico it is traditional for musicians to play in churches throughout the day on November 22nd, her feast day.
Mmmmm, Cecelia. She’s so pretty and she has a history. I wouldn’t use here — she ends in “a” — but I’d cheer on other parents who do. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I’ve ever met a Cecelia. Celia yes, Cecelia no.
This is another instance where I really regret my sibilant surname. I suppose it’s a case of loving what you can’t have… like wishing for straight hair when you have a head-full of ringlets.
Anyways Cecelia is lovely and I’d love to meet a few more little ones.
I love Cecilia and would use it in a heartbeat…if it wasn’t the name of my ex-boyfriend’s wife (who’s a real b*tch *sigh*)