Cecil Boy

Popularity: #819 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SEH-sil //ˈsɛsɪl//

Origin: Latin; French

Meaning: Latin: blind; French: sixth

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cecil has its roots in the Latin name Caecilius, which is derived from the Latin word 'caecus,' meaning 'blind.' This name was borne by a notable Roman family, the Caecilii, and it eventually evolved into various forms across different languages. The name entered the English language through the Old French form 'Cécile' during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which subsequently influenced the English variant 'Cecil.' The transition from Latin to Old French and then to English reflects the broader linguistic shifts that occurred in England during and after the Norman period.

Historically, the name Cecil has been associated with several significant figures. One of the earliest notable bearers was Saint Cecilia, a Christian martyr from the 2nd or 3rd century, who is often regarded as the patroness of musicians.

Her feast day is celebrated on November 22, and she has been a prominent figure in Christian hagiography, contributing to the name's enduring legacy. In the English context, the name gained prominence through the 16th-century statesman and diplomat Sir Robert Cecil, who served as Secretary of State under Queen Elizabeth I.

His influence in the Elizabethan court helped solidify the name's status within the English nobility. Culturally, the name Cecil has been associated with various symbolic meanings, particularly those related to vision and insight, stemming from its etymological roots.

The notion of 'blindness' in the original Latin can be interpreted metaphorically, suggesting a deeper understanding beyond mere sight. This duality has allowed the name to resonate in literary and artistic contexts, often representing characters or individuals who possess unique insights or wisdom.

Additionally, the diminutive form 'Cec' has been used in some contexts, though it is less common historically. Overall, the name Cecil carries with it a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance.

Famous people named Cecil

In this section, you will find notable people named Cecil. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cecil who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cecil who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Cecil B. DeMille is a filmmaker best known for The Ten Commandments, Cleopatra, and The Greatest Show on Earth.

Cecil Taylor is a pianist and composer best known for his avant-garde jazz style and albums like Unit Structures and Conquistador!.

Cecil Fielder is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the Detroit Tigers and for hitting 51 home runs in a season.

Cecil Beaton is a photographer and designer best known for his work in fashion photography and for designing the costumes for My Fair Lady.

Fictional characters named Cecil

The following list of fictional characters named Cecil is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Cecil is a fictional character from the video game series Final Fantasy. He is a Dark Knight who becomes a Paladin and is the protagonist of Final Fantasy IV.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cecil, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

CeciliaCecilyCyrusCadenCalebCora

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cecil. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CecilianaCecilyCeciliaCecileSelwynSilasSethCyrus

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cecil was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Cecil has ranked as high as #177 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Cecil has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cecil is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cecil was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cecil.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 119 119 0
2024 122 122 0
2023 117 117 0
2022 119 114 5
2021 114 114 0
2020 97 97 0
2019 98 98 0
2018 114 114 0
2017 103 103 0
2016 103 103 0
2015 119 114 5
2014 99 99 0
2013 114 114 0
2012 97 97 0
2011 91 91 0
2010 78 78 0
2009 88 88 0
2008 122 122 0
2007 111 111 0
2006 107 107 0
2005 108 108 0
2004 105 100 5
2003 109 101 8
2002 106 106 0
2001 127 121 6
2000 130 130 0
1999 133 133 0
1998 132 132 0
1997 135 135 0
1996 153 153 0
1995 152 147 5
1994 169 162 7
1993 205 196 9
1992 194 194 0
1991 217 217 0
1990 236 231 5
1989 249 237 12
1988 278 270 8
1987 257 250 7
1986 285 276 9
1985 273 266 7
1984 309 299 10
1983 318 309 9
1982 305 296 9
1981 329 320 9
1980 419 407 12
1979 356 351 5
1978 359 352 7
1977 380 369 11
1976 351 351 0
1975 353 348 5
1974 431 419 12
1973 419 414 5
1972 485 475 10
1971 548 536 12
1970 573 566 7
1969 562 552 10
1968 573 564 9
1967 555 543 12
1966 690 678 12
1965 736 726 10
1964 742 729 13
1963 833 826 7
1962 904 884 20
1961 988 969 19
1960 978 959 19
1959 1,030 1,008 22
1958 1,036 1,011 25
1957 1,097 1,074 23
1956 1,161 1,139 22
1955 1,265 1,228 37
1954 1,330 1,298 32
1953 1,278 1,254 24
1952 1,357 1,327 30
1951 1,355 1,323 32
1950 1,378 1,341 37
1949 1,355 1,318 37
1948 1,431 1,400 31
1947 1,485 1,443 42
1946 1,460 1,404 56
1945 1,404 1,355 49
1944 1,556 1,499 57
1943 1,764 1,697 67
1942 1,687 1,620 67
1941 1,587 1,512 75
1940 1,663 1,589 74
1939 1,647 1,578 69
1938 1,635 1,558 77
1937 1,726 1,635 91
1936 1,661 1,577 84
1935 1,792 1,726 66
1934 1,667 1,596 71
1933 1,574 1,506 68
1932 1,728 1,655 73
1931 1,848 1,769 79
1930 1,975 1,882 93
1929 1,994 1,889 105
1928 2,101 2,005 96
1927 2,344 2,227 117
1926 2,451 2,305 146
1925 2,449 2,297 152
1924 2,473 2,299 174
1923 2,401 2,255 146
1922 2,510 2,336 174
1921 2,608 2,456 152
1920 2,672 2,459 213
1919 2,500 2,300 200
1918 2,566 2,328 238
1917 2,298 2,101 197
1916 2,422 2,181 241
1915 2,381 2,181 200
1914 1,723 1,530 193
1913 1,438 1,276 162
1912 1,193 1,058 135
1911 676 560 116
1910 602 472 130
1909 545 432 113
1908 511 397 114
1907 526 399 127
1906 477 368 109
1905 464 347 117
1904 489 359 130
1903 435 332 103
1902 466 354 112
1901 406 278 128
1900 473 344 129
1899 373 256 117
1898 376 243 133
1897 354 216 138
1896 308 200 108
1895 287 192 95
1894 255 175 80
1893 259 147 112
1892 221 151 70
1891 158 108 50
1890 178 120 58
1889 157 102 55
1888 132 96 36
1887 120 80 40
1886 117 83 34
1885 118 87 31
1884 95 73 22
1883 74 51 23
1882 77 53 24
1881 51 35 16
1880 59 45 14

Top States for Cecil (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 12
21%
OH 7
13%
WA 7
13%
CA 7
13%
FL 7
13%
IN 6
11%
MS 5
9%
VA 5
9%