The name Cecilia is derived from the Roman family name Caecilius, which is derived from the Latin word "caecus" meaning "blind." The name Cecilia was popularized during the early days of Christianity as a Latinized form of the Greek name Κεκιλία (Kekilia).

Cecilia was a young Christian martyr who suffered death for her faith in the 3rd century during the Roman persecution of Christians. According to legend, as the executioners were unable to inflict the death penalty upon her, she ultimately died after being struck three times on the neck with a sword. Cecilia was regarded as the patron saint of music and musicians, possibly because she was said to have sung praise to God as she was being martyred.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Cecilia was in the 5th century, when a church was dedicated to St. Cecilia in Rome. The name gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly in England, where it was associated with the legend of St. Cecilia.

Some notable individuals named Cecilia throughout history include:

1. Cecilia Gallerani (c. 1473-c. 1536), an Italian Renaissance poet and the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "Lady with an Ermine."
2. Cecilia Renata of Austria (1611-1644), a Polish queen consort and the wife of King Władysław IV Vasa.
3. Cecilia Bartoli (born 1966), an Italian operatic mezzo-soprano and one of the most popular and acclaimed opera singers of recent times.
4. Cecilia Beaux (1855-1942), an American society portrait painter who became one of the foremost female artists of her era.
5. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900-1979), an American-British astronomer who was the first to accurately describe the composition of stars and establish that stars are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

The name Cecilia has remained popular throughout the centuries, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries, and continues to be a beloved name choice for parents around the world.