The first name Cecil
A boy’s name from Latin meaning “blind”.
Pronounced /ˈsiːsəl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Cecil means “blind” in Latin.
From Latin Caecilius, a Roman family name derived from caecus (“blind”). The surname has absorbed the Old Welsh Seisyllt, from Latin Sextilius, from Sextus.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 4 boys were named Cecil, making it the 4,275th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2009, with 8 births (#2,318).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cecil with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cecil at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 119 boys born in the United States were named Cecil, the 1,486th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 2,459 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Cecil in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Cecil
71 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Cecil John RhodesBritish businessman, mining magnate and politician in South Africa (1853-1902)
- Cecil Frank PowellBritish physicist, 1903–1969
- Cecil B. DeMilleAmerican film director, producer and actor (1881–1959)
- Arthur Cecil PigouBritish economist (1877-1959)
- Cecil BeatonBritish photographer, designer, socialite, writer (1904–1980)
- Cecil TaylorAmerican jazz pianist and poet (1929–2018)
- Cecil BødkerDanish writer (1927–2020)
- Cecil HealyAustralian swimmer (1881–1918)
- Cecil GriffithsBritish athlete (1900–1945)
- Cecil D. AndrusAmerican politician (1931-2017)
- Cecil SharpEnglish folk song collector, teacher, songwriter and musician, 1859–1924
- Robert Cecil MartinAmerican software consultant (b. 1952)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Cecil mean?
- Cecil means “blind” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Cecil?
- From Latin Caecilius, a Roman family name derived from caecus (“blind”). The surname has absorbed the Old Welsh Seisyllt, from Latin Sextilius, from Sextus.
- How popular is the name Cecil?
- In 2025, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Cecil, ranking 4,275th. Its peak was 2009, with 8 births.
- Is Cecil a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 114,676 US babies named Cecil since 1880, 7% were girls and 93% boys.
- When was Cecil most popular?
- 1920 in the United States, when 2,459 babies were named Cecil, its highest rank at 77th.
- How do you pronounce Cecil?
- Cecil is /ˈsiːsəl/, 2 syllables.
- Is Cecil also a surname?
- Yes. Cecil is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.