Find out how popular the first name Secilia has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Secilia by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Secilia is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Secilia.

The history of the first name Secilia

The name Secilia has its origins in the Late Latin name Caecilia, which was derived from the Roman family name Caecilius. This family name is believed to be connected to the Latin word "caecus," meaning "blind." The name Caecilia was borne by a semi-legendary Roman woman who was venerated as a saint and martyr.

In the 3rd century AD, the Acts of the Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia recounted the story of a young Roman noblewoman who was martyred for her Christian faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. This text was instrumental in popularizing the name Caecilia among early Christians.

The name Secilia is an anglicized spelling variant of the Latin Caecilia, which emerged in various English-speaking regions during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded examples of this spelling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners in England after the Norman Conquest.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Secilia or its variants. One of the most famous was Cecilia Domitilla (died c. 98 AD), a Roman noblewoman who was exiled for her Christian faith during the reign of Emperor Domitian. Another notable bearer was Saint Cecilia (c. 200-230 AD), the patron saint of music and musicians, who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire.

In the 16th century, Cecilia Renata of Austria (1611-1644), an Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Poland, was a prominent figure. During the 17th century, Cecilia Brecia (1628-1677), an Italian composer and singer, made significant contributions to the development of early opera.

Additionally, Cecilia Beaux (1855-1942), an American society portraitist and member of the Philadelphia School of artists, was highly esteemed for her works depicting prominent figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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 Secilia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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