Cecilia

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Cecilia

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Cecilia is the modern English and Latin form of Caecilia, an old Latin name meaning “Blind.”

History:
Cecilia, the name of a popular 3rd century saint, was introduced to England by the Normans. It was the name of the eldest daughter of William the Conquerer (Cecilia, the Abbess of Caen, 1056-1126). It was popular throughout the Middle Ages, though taking the English form of Cecily, or Cicely. Cecilia, the Latin form, was revived in the 18th century.

Pronunciation: sah-seal-ee-ah

Diminutives:
English: Cissy, Cissie, Sesse, Sessy, Sissy.
Scandinavian: Sissel.

Alternates: Cicilia.
Breton: Aziliz.
English: Cecelia, Cecila, Cecilie, Cecily, Celia, Celina, Cicely, Selina.
Finnish: Silja.
French: Cecilie, Cécile, Cecille, Celine.
German: Cäcilie.
Hawaiian: Kikilia, Kila.
Hungarian: Cili.
Irish Gaelic: Síle, Shelagh.
Irish (Anglicized): Sheila, Shayla.
Scottish Gaelic: Sìle, Sìlis, Sìleas.
Spanish: Cecília.
Welsh: Sisli, Sycyle (medieval).

Surnames:
English: Sisterson.

Masculine: Cecil.

See also: Cecily, Celia, Celine, Cissy, Sheila.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Cecilia Beaux (Eliza Cecilia Beaux) (1855-1942)
American painter.
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
French composer.
Cecília Meireles (1901-1964)
Brazilian poet.

Religious Figures:
Saint Cecilia (Cecily) (3rd century)
Patron saint of music.

Singers and Entertainers:
Cicely Tyson (1933-)
American actress.
Cecilia Bartoli (1966-)
Italian opera singer.
Celine Dion (1968-)
Canadian singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.055 % named Cecilia
0.044 % named Celia
0.043 % named Shelia
0.032 % named Cecelia
0.019 % named Cecile
0.008 % named Celina
0.006 % named Shayla
0.003 % named Cecily
0.002 % named Cecila
0.002 % named Celine
0.002 % named Cicely
0.001 % named Cecille

Popularity of Cecilia:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 322nd most popular.
1875: 321st most popular.
1900-1910: 185th most popular.
1910-1920: 211th most popular.
1920-1930: 232nd most popular.
1930-1940: 259th most popular.
1940-1950: 236th most popular.
1950-1960: 268th most popular.
1960-1970: 329th most popular.
1970-1980: 389th most popular.
1980-1990: 346th most popular.
1990: 282nd most popular.
1991: 244th most popular.
1992: 248th most popular.
1993: 258th most popular.
1994: 265th most popular.
1995: 239th most popular.
1996: 259th most popular.
1997: 300th most popular.
1998: 290th most popular.
1999: 286th most popular.
2000: 283rd most popular.
2001: 269th most popular.
2002: 271st most popular.
2003: 271st most popular.

In France...
1900-1969: N/A
1970: 155th most popular.
1980: 146th most popular.
1990: 110th most popular.
1999: 192nd most popular.
2000: N/A

Popularity of Cecelia:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 187th most popular.
1910-1920: 191st most popular.
1920-1930: 235th most popular.
1930-1940: 293rd most popular.
1940-1950: 263rd most popular.
1950-1960: 337th most popular.
1960-1970: 511th most popular.
1970-1980: 878th most popular.
1980-1990: 979th most popular.
1990: 909th most popular.
1991: 953rd most popular.
1992: 968th most popular.
1993: 853rd most popular.
1994: N/A
1995: 812th most popular.
1996: 756th most popular.
1997: 902nd most popular.
1998: 814th most popular.
1999: 767th most popular.
2000: 784th most popular.
2001: 772nd most popular.
2002: 747th most popular.
2003: 745th most popular.

Popularity of Cecile:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 237th most popular.
1910-1920: 282nd most popular.
1920-1930: 343rd most popular.
1930-1940: 408th most popular.
1940-1950: 506th most popular.
1950-1960: 749th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A

In France...
1900: 47th most popular.
1910: 42nd most popular.
1920: 50th most popular.
1930: 67th most popular.
1940: 76th most popular.
1950: 101st most popular.
1960: 86th most popular.
1970: 23rd most popular.
1980: 22nd most popular.
1990: 47th most popular.
2000: 120th most popular.

Popularity of Celina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 796th most popular.
1980-1990: 740th most popular.
1990: 703rd most popular.
1991: 676th most popular.
1992: 613th most popular.
1993: 506th most popular.
1994: 417th most popular.
1995: 457th most popular.
1996: 614th most popular.
1997: 623rd most popular.
1998: 650th most popular.
1999: 603rd most popular.
2000: 665th most popular.
2001: 826th most popular.
2002: 813th most popular.

In France...
1900: 174th most popular.
1910: 132nd most popular.
1920: 181st most popular.
1923: 180th most popular.
1930-2000: N/A