Find out how popular the first name Cecily has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cecily by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cecily is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 110 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Cecily.

The history of the first name Cecily

The name Cecily has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek name Kekilia, which means "blind" or "unseeing". This root name can be traced back to the 3rd century BC and the time of Ancient Greece.

The name Cecily is a feminine form of the masculine name Cecilio or Cecil, which traveled from Greek to Latin usage. As the Roman Empire expanded across Europe, the name spread and took on various spellings like Caecilia, Cecille, and eventually the English Cecily.

One of the earliest known references to this name is Saint Cecilia, a Roman martyr from the 3rd century AD. She is the patron saint of musicians and is often depicted in art playing the organ or other instruments. Her feast day on November 22nd helped popularize the name during the Middle Ages.

The first recorded instance of the spelling Cecily dates back to the 12th century in England. One notable bearer was Cecily Neville (1415-1495), an English noblewoman who was the mother of two English kings, Edward IV and Richard III.

Other famous people named Cecily throughout history include:

Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (1415-1495), an English princess and nobility figure.

Cecily Lefort (c.1550-c.1600), an English courtier and one of the first English professional female poets.

Cecily Brownstone (1923-2005), an Australian poet, playwright, and author.

Cecily von Ziegesar (born 1970), an American author best known for the Gossip Girl book series.

Cecily Strong (born 1984), an American actress and comedian who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cecily was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cecily, please contact us.

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