Names

Norwegian and Danish form of Cecilia, as well as a Czech variant of Cecílie.

Czech form of Cecilia.

Latinate feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, which was derived from Latin caecus meaning “blind”. Saint Cecilia was a semi-legendary 2nd- or 3rd-century martyr who was sentenced to die because she refused to worship the Roman gods. After attempts to suffocate her failed, she was beheaded. She was later regarded as the patron saint of music and musicians.Due to the popularity of the saint, the name became common in the Christian world during the Middle Ages. The Normans brought it to England, where it was commonly spelled Cecily – the Latinate form Cecilia came into use in the 18th century.

Portuguese, Catalan, Slovak and Hungarian form of Cecilia.

French form of Cecilia.

French form of Cecilia.

From the Roman name Caecilius (see Cecilia). This was the name of a 3rd-century saint, a companion of Saint Cyprian. Though it was in use during the Middle Ages in England, it did not become common until the 19th century when it was given in honour of the noble Cecil family, who had been prominent since the 16th century. Their surname was derived from the Welsh given name Seisyll, which was derived from the Roman name Sextilius, a derivative of Sextus.

Variant of Cecilia.

Diminutive of Cecilia and other names containing a similar sound.

Spanish form of Cyprianus (see Cyprian).