Cyril
Cyril is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “lordly, masterful.” Cyril comes from the Greek 'kyrios' meaning 'lord' or 'master.'
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how do you pronounce Cyril?
SEER-il
where does the name Cyril come from?
From the Greek Kyrillos, meaning lordly or masterful, from kyrios, lord. Its many forms include Cyrille, Ciril, Kirill, Kiryl, Kirillos, Kyrylo, Kiril, Kiro and Kyril.
Two major saints bear the name: Saint Cyril of Alexandria and Saint Cyril of the Slavs, who created the Cyrillic alphabet still used across Eastern Europe and Russia. The name carries scholarly and spiritual weight, with a crisp, distinguished sound.
how popular is this name?
Cyril has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 84 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 3. It peaked at #261 in 1902, and ranked #968 in 1966.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1966 | #968 |
| 1965 | #957 |
| 1964 | #1000 |
| 1963 | #936 |
| 1962 | #850 |
| 1961 | #896 |
| 1960 | #870 |
| 1959 | #903 |
| 1958 | #807 |
| 1957 | #818 |
| 1950 | #758 |
| 1940 | #532 |
| 1930 | #398 |
| 1920 | #355 |
| 1910 | #318 |
| 1902 | #261 |
| 1900 | #337 |
| 1890 | #458 |
| 1880 | #909 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Cyril fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Cyril
Saint Cyril, one of the two brothers who brought Christianity to the Slavs, gave his name to the Cyrillic alphabet.
what are the nicknames and variants of Cyril?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Cyril?
- Saint Cyril (co-creator of the Cyrillic alphabet)
- Cyril Ramaphosa (President of South Africa)
what names are similar to Cyril?
what names go well with Cyril?
Sibling names that share Cyril's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Cyril
What does the name Cyril mean?
Cyril means “lordly, masterful”.
What is the origin of the name Cyril?
Cyril comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Cyrille, Kirill, Kiril and Ciril.
How popular is the name Cyril?
Cyril ranked #968 in the US in 1966, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1902, at #261, and it has spent 84 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Cyril a boy or girl name?
Cyril is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Cyril?
Cyril is pronounced SEER-il, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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