Cecilia
Meaning of Cecilia
The name Cecilia is a timeless and elegant choice for a baby girl, with deep roots in history and culture. Originating from the Latin name Caecilia, which means "blind," Cecilia has been popularized through various forms of art and literature. The name is associated with Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and church music, who is celebrated for her piety and musical talent. Pronounced as che-CHEE-lyah in Italian, seh-THEE-lyah in Spanish, and suh-SEEL-yuh in English, this versatile name carries an international flair. The variant Cecelia offers an alternative spelling while retaining the same melodic charm. In the United States, Cecilia has consistently ranked within the top 300 names for newborn girls over the past century, reflecting its enduring appeal. Whether you're drawn to its historical significance or its lyrical sound, Cecilia remains a beautiful choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughter.
Pronunciation
Italian
- Pronunced as che-CHEE-lyah (/tʃeˈtʃiːlja/)
Spanish
- Pronunced as seh-THEE-lyah (/seˈθilja/)
British English
- Pronunced as suh-SEEL-yuh (/səˈsiːljə/)
American English
- Pronunced as suh-SEEL-yuh (/səˈsiljə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Cecilia
| Eliza Cecilia Beaux was a pioneering American artist celebrated for her elegant and sensitive portraits, and for being the first woman to teach art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. |
| Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a pioneering British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist who revolutionized our understanding of stars by proposing that they are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium in her 1925 doctoral thesis. |
| Cecilia Fire Thunder is a nurse, community health planner, and former tribal leader of the Oglala Sioux, known for her advocacy for women's reproductive rights. |
| Cecilia Chiang - Cecilia Sun Yun Chiang was a Chinese-American restaurateur and chef, renowned for establishing and running the iconic Mandarin restaurant in San Francisco, California. |
| Mireya Cecilia Ramona Pantoja Levi, also known as Cecilia or Cecilia la Incomparable, was a prominent Chilean singer-songwriter associated with the nueva ola music movement. |
| Cecilia Elena Rouse is an accomplished American economist who made history as the first Black American to serve as the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and was later appointed as President of the Brookings Institution. |
| Cecilia Dean is an American former fashion model and entrepreneur, known for co-founding Visionaire, a multi-media art and fashion company. |
| Cecilia is a Norwegian classical crossover singer recognized for her rendition of "Amazing Grace" and has released seven albums, achieving significant sales without mainstream publicity. |
| Cecilia Roth, an Argentine actress, is celebrated for her roles in Pedro Almodóvar's films and as the muse of Fito Páez in the 1990s, winning two Goya Awards and a European Film Award. |
| Cecilia Mary Ady was an English writer, academic, and historian known for her expertise in the Italian Renaissance and her reinstatement at the University of Oxford after being dismissed by a former friend. |
| Cecilia Betham was a notable Irish archer. |
| Cecilia Menjívar is an influential American sociologist known for her work on international migration, gender-based violence, and inequalities, and currently holds the Dorothy L. Meier Social Equities Chair at the University of California, Los Angeles. |
| Cecilia Lugo is a renowned Mexican contemporary dancer and choreographer, known for her work with INBA's National Dance Company and the Ballet Folklórico de México. |
| Cecilia Mary Caddell, an Irish author, was born in Harbourstown to a prominent family with connections to the Viscount Southwell of Limerick and a brother who served as the High Sheriff of Meath. |
| Cecilia Pérez Jara is a Chilean politician who has served as a minister in two governments of Sebastián Piñera. |
