Given name
Cicely
In English use, Cicely is used as a spelling variant of Cecily.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
In English use, Cicely has an alternative spelling in Cecily. An origin associated with Cecily is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Cicely is used as a spelling variant of Cecily.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cicely through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,391
- 0 boys · 2,391 girls
- Most popular year
- 1974
- 256 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #7,975 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +15%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,975 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 256 in 1974. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,189 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.
Cicely’s family of names
Cicely has an affectionate form in Sissy. Cicely shares a linguistic root with Sissel. Cicely has a related form in Cecilia.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Cicely has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Cicely
- Cicely TysonAmerican actress (1924–2021)
- Cicely SaundersEnglish writer, doctor, founder of the hospice care movement, palliative care activist1918–2005
- Cicely HamiltonBritish actress and writer1872–1952
- Cicely Mary BarkerBritish artist (1895-1973)
- Cicely CourtneidgeEnglish actress and comedian (1893–1980)
- Cicely LefortFrench resistance member (1900-1945)1899–1945
- C. V. WedgwoodEnglish historian (1910–1997)
- Cicely WilliamsJamaican physician (1893-1992)
- Cicely Corbett FisherBritish suffragist and workers' rights activist1885–1959
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cicely, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Neely
“the champion” · “a champion”
>99% girls
Sakinah
“a beloved friend” · “having God-inspired peace of mind”
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Kelli
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Susannah
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Melony
“a dark-skinned beauty”
>99% girls
Suzanna
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Sommer
“born during the summer” · “refers to the season; born in summer”
>99% girls
Salina
“one of a solemn, dignified character”
>99% girls