Cecil

At a Glance

Meaning

Blind (from Latin Caecilius); or, via the Welsh surname Seisyllt, 'sixth'

Origin

Latin / Welsh (two converging origins)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

SES-ilListen

Cecil traces back to two separate roots: the Latin Caecilius, often said to mean 'blind,' and the Welsh surname Seisyllt, which comes from the Latin Sextilius and means 'sixth.' You'll sometimes see Cecil defined simply as 'blind,' but that only tells half the story — many Cecils actually descend from the Welsh line, not the Latin one. It's a name with a genuinely split history, not a single tidy origin.

Meaning & Origin of Cecil

Meaning: Blind (from Latin Caecilius); or, via the Welsh surname Seisyllt, 'sixth'.

Origin: Latin / Welsh (two converging origins).

A common claim: Cecil is often said simply to mean 'blind' (from Latin). Actually: That captures only one of two converging origins; many Cecil surnames actually descend from the Welsh name Seisyllt (from Latin Sextilius, 'sixth'), not from Caecilius.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Cecil

Popularity of Cecil

Cecil peaked at #65 in 1902, when 354 boys were given the name, and has fallen a long way since — landing at #1479 in 2024 with just 122 babies named Cecil that year.

Names Like Cecil

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Winslow
• Ester
• Magdalene
• Virgil
• Ozzie
• Inez

FAQ

What does the name Cecil mean?

Blind (from Latin Caecilius); or, via the Welsh surname Seisyllt, ‘sixth’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Cecil?

Cecil is pronounced SES-il (IPA: /ˈsɛsəl/).

Is Cecil a popular name right now?

Cecil peaked at #65 in 1902 and is ranked #1479 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Cecil Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Cecil, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.