Nickname Cece: Short for Classic Cecilia, Bold Cascata, and More

Ever sang along to CeCe Peniston’s 1991 smash hit “Finally”? Eaten at CiCi’s Pizza? Watched 1988 tearjerker Beaches or long-running sitcom staple The Office?

Then you’ve come across this short form in one spelling or another.

But what is Cece short for? And does that change if it is CeCe or Ceci or Cici or C.C.?

Turns out that the possibilities are plentiful, from the classic Cecilia, to some truly surprising options.

CECILIA and COMPANY

CECILIA

Probably the most common formal name for Cece is the lovely, Latin Cecilia. Strictly speaking, it comes from a word meaning blind. 

But Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, an association reinforced by Simon and Garfunkel’s enduring “Cecilia.” (Sorry if that’s stuck in your head now. Woah-oh-oh-oh.)

Forms of the name have been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages, and it’s widely used across Europe, too. 

New Girl’s Cece Parikh was a Cecilia. So is Jim and Pam’s baby on The Office. 

Besides current favorite Cecilia, plenty of related names can lead to the name Cece.

CECELIA

Another spelling of Cecilia, one that makes the short form CECElia even more obvious.

CECILE

Cecile is the French form of the name. In Dangerous Liaisons, Cecile is the innocent corrupted by Valmont. The 2024 Amazon Prime update of related story Cruel Intentions gives us another character called CeCe. There’s something elegant and sophisticated about Cecile – a restrained name that invites an easy nickname like Cece.

CECILIE, CECILY

Cecily is to Cecilia as Margery is to Margaret – a form favored in medieval England, and now considered a different name. Cecilie looks French, but isn’t – it’s Scandi or maybe Slavic instead.

NAMES WITH TWO C SOUNDS

If not Cecilia or a related name, can Cece be short for something else?

Nearly any name with repeating C sounds has potential.

CASCADE, CASCATA

Cascata is the Italian word for waterfall – as in a cascade. It seems like a gorgeous possible nature name. And yet, it’s not being used at all – Cascata has yet to appear in the US popularity data at all, much less rank in the Top 1000. . But it could work, and the repeating C sound is there to shorten it to Cece.

CASSANDRA, CASSIDY

Cassandra starts with a C and has the second soft ‘c’ sound the nickname requires. So despite the spelling hurdle, Cassandra or Cassidy could answer to Cece instead of Cassie.

CELESTE

The ethereal Celeste also fits this category, and just like elegant Cecile, might feel especially in need of a nickname.

CERISE

The French word for cherry is obscure, but known unknown as a given name in the US. It also naturally shortens to Cece.

CLARICE, CLARISSA

Don’t love the sound of Clary? Cece is an easy substitute.

CLEMENCE, CLEMENCY, CLEMENTINE

As virtue names go, Clemency is far less popular than Grace or Hope. And yet, it’s a compelling virtue. It comes from the Latin clementem – gentle. Clemence and Clemency possess the requisite double Cs, but maybe Cece works for Clementine, too.

CONSTANCE, CONSUELO

Constance and Consuelo are both elegant names with long histories and lovely meanings. Constance means steadfast; Consuelo means consolation. Consuelo Vanderbilt was a Gilded Age heiress who married into the Churchill family and became a duchess. Constance was most stylish in the 1950s and has since faded. Connie might be a default nickname for either choice, but wouldn’t Cece be a sparkier choice?

COSIMA

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson calls her daughter Cosima “Mimi,” but wouldn’t Cece work just as well?

SICILY

Like the sound of Cecily, but prefer something more modern? Place name Sicily refers to an Italian island in the Mediterranean. Once an independent kingdom, Sicily has a fascinating history of its own. The name comes from the Sicels, an ancient tribe mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey.

LESS EXPECTED CHOICES

CAROLINE, CATHERINE, CHARLOTTE, CHRISTINA

Classic names open the door to unexpected nicknames, especially if you’re naming your daughter after grandma Caroline, called Carrie, or your sister Catherine, always known as Kate.

CELANDINE, CELADON

Celandine is a flower, not often bestowed as a given name. Celadon is a color – a light jade green – and also the name of a shepherd in a seventeenth century French poem. It’s a rarity, and Cece might be a welcome short form for a young Celandine or Celadon.

CAPUCINE

This French flower name has the requisite two Cs – but neither makes the right sound. They’re nasturtiums in English, so let’s agree that challenging as Capucine might be to wear, it’s a better bet than Nasturtia. It’s been a stylish name in France in recent years.

CASELLA

An Italian surname name, Casella once referred to the family who lived in a distinguished house, or casa. The sounds are right, and if this name is on your family tree? Even better.

CEDAR

With such a strong C sound, would Cece be a stretch?

CESARINA

An obscure choice, Cesarina almost screams, “I was named after my Italian great-aunt!” But isn’t Cece the obvious nickname in English?

CIEL, CIELLE, CIELO

All names that bring to mind the blue sky and the heavens, and all enjoying a modest uptick in use in the twenty-first century. Just like fellow nature name Cedar, the C sound is so strong that Cece follows naturally.

CELIA, CELINE

There’s no second ‘c’ in Celia or Celine, but they still seem like possibilities. Does that open the door for Celina, and maybe even Selena, too?

COLLINS

A surname name popular for girls thanks to real life story-turned-movie The Blind Side. 

CRESSIDA

Cressida seems like it ought to work as a formal name for Cece.

CRIMSON

Vivid, bright red Crimson becomes a little more wearable with a blends-in nickname like Cece.

CONTESSA

The Italian equivalent of Countess, Contessa is rare, but appealing.

FRANCESCA

The sounds aren’t quite there, but if Frannie and Chesca don’t suit, Cece might be one to consider.

PRISCILLA

Gospel singer CeCe Winans was born Priscilla. It’s not an obvious choice, but Cece is a playful way to update the Biblical Priscilla.

SIENNA, SIERRA

On sound alone, Sienna and Sierra seem like they ought to become Cece. The S spelling might not work as well, though.

CONSIDER THE INITIALS C.C.

Nearly any combination of C names could lead to the nickname Cece.

Former profesisonal tennis player CiCi Bellis was born Catherine Cartan. Bette Midler’s Beaches character C.C. Bloom was short for Cecilia Carol – a double dose of getting to Cece.

With so many appealing C names for our daughters, getting to Cece is easier than ever.

In your opinion, what is Cece short for? (Or what should we use as a formal name?)

P.S. – Love these posts? I’ve also written Getting to Ellie, Mimi, Aggie, Cade, Beau/Bo, Cash, Gus, Bay, Luke, Story, Dex, Max, Cal, and Leo.

First published on November 21, 2014, this post was revised and updated on November 23, 2024.