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Cecil Name Meaning, Origins & History

Cecil

Pronunciation: SEE-suhl

Meaning Blind, dim-sighted Origin Latin Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,486
TREND
7
Peak Years
1920, 1921, 1922
Lowest Years
1881, 1880, 1883
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Cecil in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Cecil

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Cecil appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 35 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1930 through 1930.
  • More than 114 thousand babies named Cecil: U.S. records list 114,673 babies given the name Cecil from 1880 through 2025. Even 7,687 girls received the name Cecil - about 1 girl for every 14 boys.

What Does the Name Cecil Mean?

Cecil is an English masculine given name. It is usually derived from the Old Welsh personal name Seisyllt (also Seisyll), a Welsh form of the Latin family name Sextilius, which comes from Sextus, meaning 'sixth.' In this derivation, Cecil means 'sixth.'

A competing explanation connects Cecil with the Latin family name Caecilius, from caecus, 'blind.' Caecilius is the source of the feminine name Cecilia, and the resemblance between Cecil and Cecilia has led some to give 'blind' as the meaning of Cecil. The Welsh derivation is the one generally given for the English surname Cecil, from which the given name comes; the Caecilius connection appears to belong to a separate Latin name or to a later association. Because the two explanations are often mixed, the exact origin is not entirely settled.

Cecil Name History & Origins

Cecil began as an English surname. The surname is generally traced to the Welsh personal name Seisyllt, which was used in medieval Wales. The related Welsh form Seisyll appears in the name of Seisyll ap Dyfnwal, a 12th-century ruler in south Wales. The surname Cecil is found in England in the Middle Ages.

The family name became prominent in the 16th century through William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1520 - 1598), chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I. His son Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, continued the family's role in government. From the 16th and 17th centuries, Cecil was occasionally used as a given name, partly because of the family's prominence. Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605 - 1675), is an early example. The given name was in use in Britain by the 19th century and later appeared in the United States and other English-speaking countries.

The Latin name Caecilius and the feminine Cecilia are related to caecus, 'blind,' but they are separate from the Welsh surname that produced the usual English given name Cecil.

How Popular is the Name Cecil?

Cecil ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1895 through 1928, then returned in 1930 and remained through 1930.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Cecil

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Past Favorite Boy Names

Past Favorite Boy Names: Once-Popular Names

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How the Name Cecil Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Cecil's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cecil's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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