Cecelia: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, and More

Fact: The name Cecelia was come up by a 3rd-century Christian who created a church in Trastevere.

Cecelia Overview

Meaning

Blind

Gender

Girl

Origin

Latin

Etymology

It’s a name of Latin origin, deriving from the Roman family name “Caecilius,” which comes from the Latin word “caecus” meaning “blind.”

Religion

Christianity

Pronunciation

/sɪˈsiːliə/

Popularity

A popular name in English-speaking countries and the United States. Cecelia made it into the top 500 popular girl names in the US in 2023.

Syllable

3 syllables

Length

7 letters

Numerology

11 (Intuitive, Idealistic, Spiritual)

Name Styles

Classic, Vintage, Aesthetic

Associated Traits

Artistic, graceful, intelligent, compassionate, and creative.

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Associated with Saint Cecilia

Cecelia Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Cecilia, Celia, Cecily, Cecille, Cecylia, Cicely, Sissy, Cilla, Cecile, Seelia

Common Nicknames

Cece, Celia, Ceci, Cici, Cee, Lia, Sia, Cia, Sissy, CeeCee

Diminutives

Cece, Ceci, Cia, Lia, Sia

Famous People

Cecelia Ahern
(Irish Author)
Cecelia Hoyce
(Irish Cricketer)
Cecelia Condit
(American Filmmaker)
Cecelia G. Bizzell
(American Historian)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

Cecelia
("Cecelia and the Satellite," Song)
Cecelia
("The Cecelia and Kate Novels," Book Series)
Cecelia
("Cecelia Ahern's Where Rainbows End," Book)

What Is the Meaning of Cecelia?

The name Cecelia means “blind” or “blind to one’s own beauty.” It is often associated with the idea of spiritual blindness or inner vision.

What Is the Origin of The Name Cecelia?

Cecelia is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name “Caecilius,” which comes from the Latin word “caecus,” meaning “blind.” The name has been popularized through Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians.

Cecelia Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Cecelia in the U.S. over the Years

United States	#5612021	#5182022	#4972023
Top 3 Rankings	#1691884	#1741907	#1751905

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Cecelia

Year	Name Ranking	Number of Births	Birth Rate (%)
2023	497 (+21 from 2022)	614 (+16 from 2022)	0.03510
2022	518 (+43 from 2021)	598 (+51 from 2021)	0.03335
2021	561 (+13 from 2020)	547 (+37 from 2020)	0.03053
2020	574 (-29 from 2019)	510 (-47 from 2019)	0.02885
2019	545 (+48 from 2018)	557 (+45 from 2018)	0.03036
2018	593 (-62 from 2017)	512 (-71 from 2017)	0.02753
2017	531 (+6 from 2016)	583 (+4 from 2016)	0.03086
2016	537 (+7 from 2015)	579 (+7 from 2015)	0.02991
2015	544 (+27 from 2014)	572 (+37 from 2014)	0.02932
2014	571 (-19 from 2013)	535 No change from 2013	0.02735
2013	552 (+44 from 2012)	535 (+51 from 2012)	0.02775
2012	596 (+60 from 2011)	484 (+50 from 2011)	0.02496
2011	656 (+83 from 2010)	434 (+57 from 2010)	0.02240
2010	739 (-2 from 2009)	377 (-16 from 2009)	0.01923
2009	737 (+23 from 2008)	393 (+6 from 2008)	0.01941
2008	760 (+23 from 2007)	387 (+20 from 2007)	0.01858
2007	783 (-110 from 2006)	367 (-56 from 2006)	0.01734
2006	673 (-14 from 2005)	423 (+3 from 2005)	0.02023
2005	659 (+38 from 2004)	420 (+34 from 2004)	0.02069
2004	697 (+48 from 2003)	386 (+45 from 2003)	0.01913
2003	745 (-5 from 2002)	341 (+13 from 2002)	0.01700
2002	740 (+23 from 2001)	328 (+15 from 2001)	0.01661
2001	763 (+8 from 2000)	313 (+17 from 2000)	0.01580
2000	771 (-10 from 1999)	296 (+5 from 1999)	0.01483
1999	761 (+44 from 1998)	291 (+27 from 1998)	0.01495
1998	805 (+70 from 1997)	264 (+32 from 1997)	0.01362
1997	875 (-132 from 1996)	232 (-52 from 1996)	0.01215
1996	743 (+57 from 1995)	284 (+36 from 1995)	0.01481
1995	800 (+53 from 1994)	248 (+16 from 1994)	0.01291
1994	853 (-41 from 1993)	232 (-14 from 1993)	0.01190
1993	812 (+129 from 1992)	246 (+40 from 1992)	0.01248
1992	941 (-31 from 1991)	206 (-6 from 1991)	0.01028
1991	910 (-61 from 1990)	212 (-19 from 1990)	0.01043
1990	849 (+59 from 1989)	231 (+31 from 1989)	0.01124
1989	908 (-71 from 1988)	200 (-15 from 1988)	0.01004
1988	837 (-11 from 1987)	215 (+4 from 1987)	0.01118
1987	826 (+100 from 1986)	211 (+38 from 1986)	0.01126
1986	926 (-40 from 1985)	173 (-7 from 1985)	0.00937
1985	886 (-24 from 1984)	180 (+3 from 1984)	0.00975
1984	862 (-42 from 1983)	177 (-10 from 1983)	0.00982
1983	820 (+80 from 1982)	187 (+19 from 1982)	0.01045
1982	900 (+56 from 1981)	168 (+15 from 1981)	0.00926
1981	956 (-31 from 1980)	153 (-8 from 1980)	0.00855
1980	925 (+34 from 1979)	161 (+10 from 1979)	0.00904
1979	959 (+98 from 1978)	151 (+24 from 1978)	0.00876
1978	1057 (-30 from 1977)	127 (-3 from 1977)	0.00773
1977	1027 (-80 from 1976)	130 (-5 from 1976)	0.00790
1976	947 (-129 from 1975)	135 (-32 from 1975)	0.00859
1975	818 (-3 from 1974)	167 (+2 from 1974)	0.01070
1974	815 (-84 from 1973)	165 (-27 from 1973)	0.01053
1973	731 (-39 from 1972)	192 (-20 from 1972)	0.01235
1972	692 (-40 from 1971)	212 (-37 from 1971)	0.01315
1971	652 (-77 from 1970)	249 (-60 from 1970)	0.01421
1970	575 (+114 from 1969)	309 (+100 from 1969)	0.01687
1969	689 (-106 from 1968)	209 (-60 from 1968)	0.01186
1968	583 (-4 from 1967)	269 (-3 from 1967)	0.01573
1967	579 (-17 from 1966)	272 (-14 from 1966)	0.01584
1966	562 (-36 from 1965)	286 (-44 from 1965)	0.01629
1965	526 (-19 from 1964)	330 (-44 from 1964)	0.01806
1964	507 (-61 from 1963)	374 (-96 from 1963)	0.01911
1963	446 (-22 from 1962)	470 (-53 from 1962)	0.02364
1962	424 (-14 from 1961)	523 (-42 from 1961)	0.02580
1961	410 (-4 from 1960)	565 (+6 from 1960)	0.02720
1960	406 (-36 from 1959)	559 (-111 from 1959)	0.02688
1959	370 (-2 from 1958)	670 (+56 from 1958)	0.03223
1958	368 (-22 from 1957)	614 (-67 from 1957)	0.02972
1957	346 (-5 from 1956)	681 (+15 from 1956)	0.03246
1956	341 (-9 from 1955)	666 (+11 from 1955)	0.03234
1955	332 (-7 from 1954)	655 (-24 from 1954)	0.03267
1954	325 (-13 from 1953)	679 (-12 from 1953)	0.03411
1953	312 (-14 from 1952)	691 (-22 from 1952)	0.03581
1952	298 (-13 from 1951)	713 (-48 from 1951)	0.03749
1951	285 (-9 from 1950)	761 (-7 from 1950)	0.04120
1950	276 (-15 from 1949)	768 (-82 from 1949)	0.04367
1949	261 (+2 from 1948)	850 (+6 from 1948)	0.04842
1948	263 (-14 from 1947)	844 (-46 from 1947)	0.04843
1947	249 (+23 from 1946)	890 (+178 from 1946)	0.04896
1946	272 (+3 from 1945)	712 (+84 from 1945)	0.04414
1945	275 (-4 from 1944)	628 (-17 from 1944)	0.04665
1944	271 (-26 from 1943)	645 (-137 from 1943)	0.04720
1943	245 (-16 from 1942)	782 (-54 from 1942)	0.05448
1942	229 (+29 from 1941)	836 (+227 from 1941)	0.06012
1941	258 (+3 from 1940)	609 (+42 from 1940)	0.04888
1940	261 (+7 from 1939)	567 (+33 from 1939)	0.04800
1939	268 (+11 from 1938)	534 (+20 from 1938)	0.04709
1938	279 (+4 from 1937)	514 (+40 from 1937)	0.04503
1937	283 (-5 from 1936)	474 (+3 from 1936)	0.04302
1936	278 (+23 from 1935)	471 (+62 from 1935)	0.04371
1935	301 (+22 from 1934)	409 (+35 from 1934)	0.03763
1934	323 (-13 from 1933)	374 (-29 from 1933)	0.03455
1933	310 (-6 from 1932)	403 (-31 from 1932)	0.03853
1932	304 (-9 from 1931)	434 (-19 from 1931)	0.03923
1931	295 (-9 from 1930)	453 (-73 from 1930)	0.04104
1930	286 (-15 from 1929)	526 (-33 from 1929)	0.04509
1929	271 (-1 from 1928)	559 (-20 from 1928)	0.04829
1928	270 (-5 from 1927)	579 (-43 from 1927)	0.04843
1927	265 (-14 from 1926)	622 (-63 from 1926)	0.05031
1926	251 (-4 from 1925)	685 (-36 from 1925)	0.05568
1925	247 (-2 from 1924)	721 (-21 from 1924)	0.05708
1924	245 (-11 from 1923)	742 (-44 from 1923)	0.05727
1923	234 (+2 from 1922)	786 (+26 from 1922)	0.06276
1922	236 (-10 from 1921)	760 (-65 from 1921)	0.06092
1921	226 (-9 from 1920)	825 (-65 from 1920)	0.06447
1920	217 (-5 from 1919)	890 (+23 from 1919)	0.07154
1919	212 (-8 from 1918)	867 (-68 from 1918)	0.07381
1918	204 (-3 from 1917)	935 (+15 from 1917)	0.07776
1917	201 (-1 from 1916)	920 (+37 from 1916)	0.08187
1916	200 No change from 1915	883 (+62 from 1915)	0.08133
1915	200 (-4 from 1914)	821 (+142 from 1914)	0.08019
1914	196 (+2 from 1913)	679 (+143 from 1913)	0.08523
1913	198 (-7 from 1912)	536 (+23 from 1912)	0.08184
1912	191 (-16 from 1911)	513 (+97 from 1911)	0.08744
1911	175 (+21 from 1910)	416 (+81 from 1910)	0.09416
1910	196 (+2 from 1909)	335 (+41 from 1909)	0.07985
1909	198 (-20 from 1908)	294 (-31 from 1908)	0.07987
1908	178 (-4 from 1907)	325 (+4 from 1907)	0.09167
1907	174 (+1 from 1906)	321 (+31 from 1906)	0.09513
1906	175 No change from 1905	290 (-3 from 1905)	0.09252
1905	175 (+3 from 1904)	293 (+21 from 1904)	0.09456
1904	178 (+10 from 1903)	272 (+30 from 1903)	0.09301
1903	188 (-1 from 1902)	242 (-1 from 1902)	0.08699
1902	187 (-11 from 1901)	243 (-6 from 1901)	0.08668
1901	176 (+19 from 1900)	249 (-15 from 1900)	0.09794
1900	195 (-5 from 1899)	264 (+50 from 1899)	0.08309
1899	190 (+2 from 1898)	214 (-15 from 1898)	0.08647
1898	192 (-6 from 1897)	229 (+17 from 1897)	0.08353
1897	186 (+14 from 1896)	212 (+22 from 1896)	0.08539
1896	200 (+13 from 1895)	190 (+27 from 1895)	0.07540
1895	213 (-1 from 1894)	163 (+4 from 1894)	0.06596
1894	212 (-20 from 1893)	159 (-23 from 1893)	0.06738
1893	192 (-1 from 1892)	182 (+7 from 1892)	0.08081
1892	191 (+14 from 1891)	175 (+45 from 1891)	0.07781
1891	205 (+6 from 1890)	130 No change from 1890	0.06614
1890	211 (-18 from 1889)	130 (-8 from 1889)	0.06446
1889	193 (+23 from 1888)	138 (+25 from 1888)	0.07293
1888	216 No change from 1887	113 (+21 from 1887)	0.05965
1887	216 (-15 from 1886)	92 (-4 from 1886)	0.05919
1886	201 (+14 from 1885)	96 (+12 from 1885)	0.06245
1885	215 (-46 from 1884)	84 (-25 from 1884)	0.05918
1884	169 (+49 from 1883)	109 (+42 from 1883)	0.07922
1883	218 (+15 from 1882)	67 (+12 from 1882)	0.05581
1882	233 (-20 from 1881)	55 (+4 from 1881)	0.04754
1881	213 (+13 from 1880)	51 (+4 from 1880)	0.05159
1880	226 First SSA data recorded	47 First SSA data recorded	0.04815

American States Popularity Rankings for Cecelia

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

Pennsylvania (PA)

#2392021

#2912022

#2182023

New York (NY)

#4392021

#4162022

#3672023

California (CA)

#19432021

#11882022

#11102023

Illinois (IL)

#4112021

#4202022

#3832023

Ohio (OH)

#3332021

#2142022

#2662023

Michigan (MI)

#3292021

#2952022

#3522023

Texas (TX)

#15462021

#14132022

#13732023

New Jersey (NJ)

#6962021

#4602022

#4712023

Massachusetts (MA)

#2182021

#2012022

#2702023

Minnesota (MN)

#1412021

#2072022

#1522023

Wisconsin (WI)

#3002021

#2852022

#2852023

Maryland (MD)

#4102020

#4732021

#4812022

Florida (FL)

#9292021

#5932022

#6622023

Missouri (MO)

#5812021

#2832022

#2412023

Indiana (IN)

#5882021

#5022022

#3822023

Virginia (VA)

#5102021

#5722022

#4992023

North Carolina (NC)

#9682021

#7812022

#7282023

Georgia (GA)

#12032021

#10942022

#10402023

Arizona (AZ)

#5982021

#7832022

#11212023

Louisiana (LA)

#5312021

#6552022

#5192023

Washington (WA)

#4922021

#4282022

#4452023

Connecticut (CT)

#2982020

#2702022

#1722023

Alabama (AL)

#7062018

#7262020

#6812022

Colorado (CO)

#3482021

#5322022

#4032023

Iowa (IA)

#4452021

#2142022

#2582023

Tennessee (TN)

#4952021

#8392022

#7102023

Kentucky (KY)

#6552020

#6572021

#5192023

District of Columbia (DC)

#3461967

#2801968

#2531983

New Mexico (NM)

#1841974

#3511976

#3931982

South Carolina (SC)

#7882020

#8112022

#4782023

Kansas (KS)

#5942020

#5332022

#5952023

Nebraska (NE)

#2872021

#2762022

#3192023

Oklahoma (OK)

#6892016

#6482017

#7322023

West Virginia (WV)

#3652013

#3582015

#2602016

North Dakota (ND)

#1482018

#2202021

#1052023

Oregon (OR)

#3942021

#4222022

#6272023

Mississippi (MS)

#5041979

#3951987

#4071990

South Dakota (SD)

#1751947

#1912015

#2192021

Rhode Island (RI)

#1401944

#1682015

#2002017

Arkansas (AR)

#3941964

#4892014

#5972017

Montana (MT)

#2081952

#2221954

#2062010

Utah (UT)

#5732017

#4342020

#6002023

Maine (ME)

#2292017

#2242018

#1842022

Hawaii (HI)

#1881942

#2231951

#2421954

New Hampshire (NH)

#1532021

#2282022

#2392023

Idaho (ID)

#1501949

#2401952

#3932016

Alaska (AK)

#1822006

#1612019

#1392021

Delaware (DE)

#721914

#811923

#1471952

Nevada (NV)

#5652010

#5602018

Popularity Rankings for Cecelia in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Canada

Canada

#8112020

#5632021

#7542022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland

#8422007

#5842014

#8712019

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales

#9552019

#8532020

#6252021

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Cecelia a Name for Boys or Girls?

Cecelia is a name traditionally given to girls. It is a feminine form of the name Cecil and is widely used for female children.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Cecelia

Meaning: Blind, hidden
Origin: LatinCecilia
Celia
Cecily
Cecille
Cecylia
Cicely
Sissy
Cilla
Cecile
Seelia

Cece
Celia
Ceci
Cici
Cee
Meaning: Relaxed, weary
Origin: Italian, Hebrew, GreekLia
Sia
Cia
Sissy
CeeCee

Cece
Ceci
Cia
Meaning: Relaxed, weary
Origin: Italian, Hebrew, GreekLia
Sia

Cecelia in Famous People Names and Pop Culture

Cecelia Ahern (Author, 1981): Irish novelist known for her book "P.S. I Love You," which was adapted into a successful film.
Cecelia Joyce (Cricketer, 1983): Irish cricketer who has represented Ireland in international women's cricket.
Cecelia Condit (Filmmaker, 1947): American artist and filmmaker known for her experimental and feminist video art.

Cecelia ("Cecelia and the Satellite," 2014 Song): A song by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness about his daughter Cecelia.
Cecelia ("The Cecelia and Kate Novels," 1988 Book Series): A series of epistolary novels co-written by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.
Cecelia ("Cecelia Ahern's Where Rainbows End," 2004 Book): A novel by Cecelia Ahern, also known as "Love, Rosie," adapted into a film starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin.

None

Meaning: Blind, hidden
Origin: LatinCecilia
Celia
Cecily
Meaning: Heavenly
Origin: French, LatinCeline
Meaning: Heavenly, celestial
Origin: LatinCeleste
Selina
Meaning: Moon
Origin: GreekSelena
Seraphina
Cerelia
Celestine

Sibling Names for Cecelia

For a Brother
For a Sister

Parents Who Like the Name Cecelia Also Like

Your baby girl name can be unique by using the moniker Cecelia. For that, share your thoughts in the comment section and let’s not forget to spread this name with others.

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Editor in Chief, Educational Specialist, and Senior Content Creator

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Cecelia Name Meaning