Cecelia Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cecelia is a name of Latin origin, derived from 'Caecilia', meaning 'blind'. It evolved through historical forms like 'Cecilia' before reaching its modern form. The name is often associated with traits of grace and musicality, linked to Saint Cecilia. It does not have biblical relevance. The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages and has seen renewed interest in contemporary times, with various common variants and derivatives.
The name Cecelia is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cecelia has been stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Cecelia' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5874th out of 6773 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 222nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 273rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 344th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 722nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 876th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 738th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 558th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Cecelia' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cecelia"
Pronunciation
/sɪˈsiːliə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
Cecelia is derived from the Latin name 'Caecilia', which is a feminine form of 'Caecilius', meaning 'blind'. It is linked to the Roman family name 'Caecilius', which was derived from the Latin word 'caecus'.
Meaning
blind
Language Evolution
Caecilia, Cecilia, Cecelia
Historical Usage
Cecelia gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in connection with Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, whose feast day is celebrated on November 22. The name has been used in various forms throughout history, particularly in Christian contexts.
Variants & Derivatives
Cecilia, Cecily, Celia, Cecile
Modern Popularity & Image
Cecelia is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with grace and musical talent due to its connection with Saint Cecilia. It has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
Famous People
Saint Cecilia, Cecelia Ahern (Irish author), Cecelia Holland (American author), Cecilia Bartoli (Italian mezzo-soprano)
Explore More Cecelia Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cecelia"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cecelia"
"Cecelia" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 5874th of 6773 | 11 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 222nd of 9107 | 15,465 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 273rd of 9204 | 9,797 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 344th of 12526 | 12,685 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 722nd of 19264 | 3,364 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 876th of 27321 | 3,323 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 738th of 35406 | 5,736 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 558th of 30306 | 6,678 |
Regional Popularity of "Cecelia" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Cecelia" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.71% 180th/1416 |
10.30% 142nd/1379 |
18.17% 430th/2366 |
19.79% 226th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
16.56% 256th/1546 |
12.28% 191st/1556 |
15.77% 371st/2353 |
15.32% 237th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
17.24% 384th/2227 |
12.63% 307th/2430 |
11.92% 340th/2853 |
11.78% 327th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
29.25% 859th/2937 |
21.45% 747th/3483 |
20.35% 716th/3518 |
15.53% 628th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
22.77% 839th/3685 |
21.30% 953rd/4475 |
19.08% 991st/5194 |
12.78% 807th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.37% 475th/4582 |
11.27% 582nd/5164 |
15.11% 1105th/7313 |
12.94% 966th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.16% 325th/3984 |
7.69% 345th/4487 |
12.86% 877th/6822 |
13.45% 844th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cecelia"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cecelia" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.