Cecilia

Cecilia (Cécilia) is a female first name that is regarded as a French, Italian, and Spanish variant of the name Cäcilia. This, in turn, has its origins in the ancient Roman family name Caecilius, which likely has Etruscan roots.

What does the name Cecilia mean?

The name Cecilia (Cécilia) is often considered a French, Italian, and Spanish variant of the name Cäcilia, which traces back to the Roman family name Caecilius. Originally, it was interpreted as 'the woman from the house of the Caecilii,' referring to the family of the Caecilii. Over time, however, this meaning was folk-etymologically reinterpreted, so that today the name is associated with 'the blind one,' 'the one-eyed,' or 'the blinded one.' The origin lies in the Latin word caecus, meaning 'blind,' 'one-eyed,' or 'blinded.' Additionally, the name is attributed a connection to the Latin term caelum, meaning 'the sky,' which is why it is also interpreted as 'the heavenly one.' The spread of the name is closely linked to Saint Cecilia of Rome, who is considered the patron saint of church music and lived in the 3rd century. Cecília is a common spelling in Catalan, Portuguese, Slovak, and Hungarian. Other variants include Cäcilie, Caecilia, Cecilie, Ceciley, Cecilya, Cecilije, Cecilija, Cecila, Cecile, and Cecily. A prominent bearer of this name is the Italian opera singer Cecilia Bartoli.

Where does the name Cecilia come from?

Cecilia is a female first name that has its origins in the Latin and Roman languages and is associated with the meanings 'the blind one' or 'the one-eyed.'

How do you pronounce Cecilia?

The sound structure and pronunciation of Cecilia is melodic and can be described as four to three syllables. Typically, the name is pronounced as 'Ce-ci-li-a' [tseˈtsiːli̯a] or [seˈsiːli̯a]. It begins with a clear E sound, and the recurring I sounds give the name a certain lightness. The open ending '-a' provides a gentle conclusion. Cecilia conveys an elegant and sonorous impression – a name with a harmonious structure and fine presence.

When is the name day of Cecilia?

The name day for Cecilia is celebrated on November 22.

Popularity

In Germany, Cecilia is a highly sought-after first name. Currently, it ranks 308th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 1931, when it reached 193rd place. Over the last ten years, Cecilia has been given as a first name about 1,500 times, placing it 371st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 365th.

Nicknames & pet names

Cc / Ce / CeCe / Ceci / Cecilius / Cecy / Celi / Celia / Cely / Cess / Cessi / Cessie / Cessy / Cibe / Cic / Cica / Cicci / Ciccy / Cice / Cici / Cil / Cili / Cilia / Cilla / Cille / Cilli / Cilly / Cilya / Cissi / Cissy / Cyli / Lia / Lilli / Lilly / Sessel / Sessy / Sissi

Similar first names

Famous people

• Cecilia "Cece" Parekh (character from the US series "New Girl")
• Cecilia Ahern (Irish author (of: "P.S. I Love You"))
• Cecilia Amenabar (Chilean actress)
• Cecilia Bartoli (opera singer)
• Cecilia Beaux (American artist)
• Cecilia Berder (French fencer)
• Cecilia Cara (French actress)
• Cecilia Dart-Thornton (Australian author)
• Cecilia Echenique (singer from Chile)
• Cecilia Ehrling (Swedish dancer)
• Cecilia Elizabeth Biagioli (American swimmer)
• Cecilia Francis (Egyptian sprinter)
• Cecilia Frode (Swedish actress)
• Cecilia Galante (American author)
• Cecilia Gasdia (soprano from Italy)
• Cecilia Gauna (Argentinian singer)
• Cecilia Gyllenhammar (Swedish author)
• Cecilia Hall (Swedish actress)
• Cecilia Jarlskog (Swedish physicist)
• Cecilia Jones (character from the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up")