Cecil
Cecil was the 1486th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 119 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 65th; the most babies were born in 1920 (2,459). Over the last ten years it has moved down 18 places. More babies were named Cecil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Caecilius (perhaps 'blind'); Welsh Seisyllt · Latin, Welsh
Say it SEE-sul /ˈsisəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,486 boys, up 161 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 119boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19202,459 babies
- Total since 1880
- 114,676babies recorded
What does the name Cecil mean?
Cecil comes from Latin Caecilius, the name of a Roman family, which DMNES says may derive from caecus 'blind'. Wiktionary adds that the English surname Cecil also absorbed the Old Welsh name Seisyllt, from Latin Sextilius. The Cecil family, including William Cecil, Lord Burghley, chief minister of Elizabeth I, made the surname prominent, and it became a first name in the 19th century.
Caecilius (Latin, “Roman family name”)caecus (Latin, “blind (possible source)”)
How sure is this? Probable. DMNES: may derive from caecus.
Pronunciation: In Britain it is often SESS-ul.
Related names: Cecilia, Cecily, Cecile.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Cecil', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Cecil', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Cecil popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 7,687 since 1880.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,486 | 119 |
| 2020 | #1,647 | 97 |
| 2010 | #1,853 | 78 |
| 2000 | #1,083 | 130 |
| 1990 | #665 | 231 |
| 1980 | #401 | 407 |
| 1970 | #337 | 566 |
| 1960 | #255 | 959 |
| 1950 | #171 | 1,341 |
| 1940 | #117 | 1,589 |
| 1930 | #99 | 1,882 |
| 1920 | #77 | 2,459 |
| 1910 | #77 | 472 |
| 1900 | #76 | 344 |
| 1890 | #121 | 120 |
| 1880 | #248 | 45 |
How popular is Cecil, counting every spelling?
Cecil has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,403 for boys in 2025, against #1,486 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Cecil?
119 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cecil (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Cecil born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 70 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cecil.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cecil?
About 33,000 people born in the US named Cecil are alive today, with a median age of 66; half are between 50 and 77. That makes Cecil a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Cecil by state
How common Cecil was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Tennessee (1.9×), Washington (1.8×). In 29 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cecil: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cecil, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Cecil · Sibling names for Cecil
Questions about the name Cecil
What does Cecil mean?
Cecil means “from Caecilius (perhaps 'blind'); Welsh Seisyllt” (Latin, Welsh origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Cecil?
Cecil was the 1486th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 119 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 65th; the most babies were born in 1920 (2,459). Over the last ten years it has moved down 18 places. More babies were named Cecil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Cecil a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Cecil in the US.
Where is Cecil most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cecil was most common in Alabama (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Tennessee and Washington.