Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1911. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cecily through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,673
- 0 boys · 8,673 girls
- Most popular year
- 1989
- 472 babies
- 2025
- 137
- #1,541 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −22%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 137 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,541 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 22.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 472 in 1989. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,194 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cecily’s family of names
Cecily has an affectionate form in Sissy. Cecily shares a linguistic root with Silja. Cecily has a related form in Cecilia.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Cecily has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Ceciliavariant
- Cicelyvariant · English
- Cecillylikely variant
- Cecydiminutive · English
- Silkepet form
- Sissypet form
- Cecilyelikely variant
- Ceciediminutive · English
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Cecily
- Cecily Neville, Duchess of YorkEnglish noblewoman (1415–1495)
- Cecily von ZiegesarAmerican writerborn 1970
- Cecily StrongAmerican actressborn 1984
- Cecily AdamsAmerican actress (1958–2004)
- Cicely LefortFrench resistance member (1900-1945)1899–1945
- Cecily BrownBritish artist (born 1969)
- Cecily Bonville, 7th Baroness HaringtonEnglish noblewoman1460–1529
- Cecily Neville, Duchess of WarwickEnglish duchess1425–1450
- Cecily NordenEquestrian and author (1918-2011)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cecily, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Celina
“heaven”
>99% girls
Erica
“ever the ruler”
>99% girls
Stephanie
“crowned in victory” · “crowned with garland”
>99% girls
Tiara
“one who is crowned”
>99% girls
Emily
“rival”
>99% girls
Serena
“having a peaceful disposition”
>99% girls
Marissa
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Larissa
“a lighthearted woman”
>99% girls