Audrey
English
“noble strength”
Mostly girls · Feminine form of Cecil, Latin
“blind”
Say it suh-SEEL-yuhPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Cecilia is a lovely classic name deservedly enjoying a new turn in the sun. Always among the Top 500 girls' names in the US, Cecilia is now at its highest point ever.
Cecilia is a feminine form of Cecil, which was derived from a Roman clan name related to the Latin caecus, meaning "blind". While that may put some parents off, we say put that ancient meaning aside and focus on Cecilia's symbolic resonance in the contemporary world as a classy and classic name.
The martyred Saint Cecilia was designated the patron of musicians, either because she supposedly sang directly to God while the musicians played at her wedding, or because she sang to God as she was dying. The name was popularized in the Middle Ages as an homage to the Saint.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 108 | 2,506 |
| 2024 | Girls | 123 | 2,248 |
| 2023 | Girls | 137 | 2,058 |
| 2022 | Girls | 145 | 2,006 |
| 2021 | Girls | 133 | 2,095 |
| 2020 | Girls | 147 | 1,860 |
| 2019 | Girls | 153 | 1,861 |
| 2018 | Girls | 155 | 1,809 |
| 2017 | Girls | 168 | 1,815 |
| 2016 | Girls | 177 | 1,827 |
| 2015 | Girls | 181 | 1,782 |
| 2014 | Girls | 206 | 1,640 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
English
“noble strength”
Greek
“laurel tree, bay tree”
French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew
“Jehovah increases”
Greek
“radiant, shining one”