Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Cilia isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1969. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cilia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 48
- 0 boys · 48 girls
- Most popular year
- 1984
- 20 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2006. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 20 in 1984. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 384 as a first name in 2020; 420 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cilia’s family of names
In English usage, Cilia is a diminutive of Cecilia.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Cilia
- Cilia FloresFirst Lady of Venezuela from 2013 to 2026born 1956
- Cilia SawadogoBurkina Faso-Canadian film directorborn 1965
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cilia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Silvia
“a woodland dweller”
>99% girls
Salina
“one of a solemn, dignified character”
>99% girls
Elicia
“my God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Sirena
Sirena is a surname. It is used in Italian.
>99% girls
Camelia
“a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin”
>99% girls
Evelia
“giver of life; a lively woman”
>99% girls
Jacinta
“resembling a hyacinth” · “resembling the hyacinth”
>99% girls
Symone
“one who listens well”
>99% girls