Cecilia
Cecilia is a girls' name of Latin origin meaning “blind; patron saint of music.” It ranked #108 in the United States in 2025. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, celebrated since the Middle Ages.
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how do you pronounce Cecilia?
seh-SEE-lee-ah
where does the name Cecilia come from?
From the Latin Caecilia, feminine of the Roman family name Caecilius, possibly derived from a byname meaning blind.
The name was famously popularized in modern times by Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 song 'Cecilia.'
how popular is this name?
Cecilia has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #108 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #108 |
| 2024 | #123 |
| 2023 | #137 |
| 2022 | #145 |
| 2021 | #133 |
| 2020 | #147 |
| 2019 | #153 |
| 2018 | #155 |
| 2017 | #168 |
| 2016 | #177 |
| 2010 | #277 |
| 2000 | #283 |
| 1990 | #326 |
| 1980 | #361 |
| 1970 | #383 |
| 1960 | #283 |
| 1950 | #249 |
| 1940 | #252 |
| 1930 | #262 |
| 1920 | #237 |
| 1910 | #225 |
| 1900 | #199 |
| 1890 | #262 |
| 1880 | #233 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Cecilia fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Cecilia
St Cecilia, a third-century Roman martyr, is the patron saint of music, and it is through her that the name spread. It appears in Sweden as early as the twelfth century.
what are the nicknames and variants of Cecilia?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Cecilia?
- Cecilia Bartoli
- Saint Cecilia
what names are similar to Cecilia?
what names go well with Cecilia?
Sibling names that share Cecilia's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Cecilia
What does the name Cecilia mean?
Cecilia means “blind; patron saint of music”.
What is the origin of the name Cecilia?
Cecilia comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Cécile, Cecelia and Cecylia.
How popular is the name Cecilia?
Cecilia ranked #108 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #108, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Cecilia a boy or girl name?
Cecilia is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Cecilia?
Cecilia is pronounced seh-SEE-lee-ah, with 4 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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