Holding steady.
Popularity of Ceil since 1894
Babies named Ceil per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ceil's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 123 |
| 1910s | 219 |
| 1920s | 98 |
| 1930s | 58 |
| 1940s | 84 |
| 1950s | 148 |
| 1960s | 43 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ceil is a short form of Cecilia that saw its peak usage in the early 1900s. First recorded in 1894, it reached its highest popularity in 1905, during a time when diminutive names were fashionable. Although it never ranked in the top 1000 nationally, it was a familiar choice in certain communities. The name's trajectory has been stable but rare, with minimal usage in recent decades. As a classic nickname, Ceil carries the weight of its Latin origin while offering a concise, vintage feel similar to other turn-of-the-century names.
Ceil is a diminutive of Cecilia, which comes from the Latin name Caecilia, the feminine form of Caecilius, a Roman family name derived from 'caecus' meaning 'blind'. The name Cecilia was borne by a 2nd-century Roman martyr who became the patron saint of music.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Ceil
Names that share Ceil's style, for a brother or sister.
