Is Cecilia a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Cecilia is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Cecilia?

It’s currently ranked #122 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Cecilia?

suh-SIL-ee-uh · IPA: //səˈsɪliə//

Cecilia Girl

Popularity: #122 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Latin; Italian

Meaning

Latin: blind; Italian: heavenly

Historical & Cultural Background

Cecilia is derived from the Latin name Caecilius, which is related to the word 'caecus,' meaning blind. The name has been popular in Christian tradition due to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, who is celebrated for her piety and devotion. The name has been used in various cultures, particularly in Italy, where it is associated with music and the arts. Over the centuries, Cecilia has maintained a presence in literature and music, often symbolizing purity and grace.

Trend Summary

Cecilia has seen a resurgence in popularity in the United States, particularly in the 21st century.

Variants

Cecily
Celia

International Variants

Cécile (French)
Cecilia (Spanish)
Cecilie (Danish)
Cecilia (Italian)
Cecília (Hungarian)

Famous people named Cecilia

Cecilia Bartoli is an acclaimed Italian mezzo-soprano known for her operatic performances and recordings.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a pioneering British-American astronomer who made significant contributions to the understanding of stellar atmospheres.

Cecilia Cheung is a Hong Kong actress and singer recognized for her roles in various films.

Cecilia Malmström is a Swedish politician who served as the European Commissioner for Trade.

Fictional characters named Cecilia

Cecilia is a character in the novel 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan, where she plays a central role in the story's themes of love and misunderstanding.

Cecilia is a character in the animated film 'The Secret of Kells,' where she is depicted as a brave and adventurous girl.

Sibling Suggestions

Clara Juliet Amelia Sophia Isabella Victoria

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cecilia was first seen in the United States in 1880. Cecilia has ranked as high as #274 nationally which occurred in 2024 and has been most popular in Texas, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Cecilia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Cecilia (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	206	10%
CA	186	9%
NY	136	6%
PA	114	5%
FL	105	5%
IL	101	5%
MA	97	5%
OH	91	4%
NJ	81	4%
GA	65	3%
NC	64	3%
VA	58	3%
WA	54	3%
IN	53	3%
LA	52	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	44
1881	39
1882	37
1883	39
1884	63
1885	71
1886	68
1887	83
1888	97
1889	89
1890	91
1891	121
1892	138
1893	126
1894	144
1895	138
1896	168
1897	160
1898	213
1899	205
1900	249
1901	196
1902	195
1903	218
1904	250
1905	237
1906	219
1907	234
1908	263
1909	257
1910	287
1911	342
1912	453
1913	485
1914	525
1915	723
1916	685
1917	704
1918	755
1919	746
1920	757
1921	761
1922	733
1923	742
1924	768
1925	705
1926	717
1927	654
1928	570
1929	500
1930	567
1931	459
1932	468
1933	431
1934	438
1935	487
1936	507
1937	560
1938	549
1939	562
1940	629
1941	670
1942	831
1943	842
1944	704
1945	656
1946	802
1947	973
1948	955
1949	944
1950	921
1951	954
1952	984
1953	1,038
1954	984
1955	1,004
1956	997
1957	1,057
1958	1,002
1959	1,042
1960	1,036
1961	965
1962	1,055
1963	869
1964	835
1965	733
1966	644
1967	620
1968	550
1969	545
1970	621
1971	599
1972	569
1973	501
1974	539
1975	512
1976	516
1977	520
1978	556
1979	636
1980	654
1981	683
1982	664
1983	640
1984	723
1985	657
1986	686
1987	743
1988	728
1989	810
1990	847
1991	965
1992	1,017
1993	998
1994	969
1995	1,128
1996	1,072
1997	962
1998	1,053
1999	1,103
2000	1,137
2001	1,165
2002	1,171
2003	1,162
2004	1,178
2005	1,189
2006	1,245
2007	1,242
2008	1,259
2009	1,235
2010	1,202
2011	1,317
2012	1,463
2013	1,434
2014	1,640
2015	1,782
2016	1,827
2017	1,815
2018	1,809
2019	1,861
2020	1,859
2021	2,095
2022	2,006
2023	2,057
2024	2,238