Cilia

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Cilia

Pronounced SEE-lee-uh /ˈsiː.li.ə/Medium

Meaning: Cilia is a clipped form of Cecilia, from the Roman family name Caecilius, conventionally linked to caecus meaning blind; Saint Cecilia is the patron of music, and the short form keeps that heritage.Low

In 30 seconds: Cilia is a short form of Cecilia, the Latin-rooted name of the patron saint of music. It appeared for a small number of United States girls around 1984 (said SEE-lee-uh).

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Origin LowLatin, Italian

MeaningCilia is a clipped form of Cecilia, from the Roman family name Caecilius, conventionally linked to caecus meaning blind; Saint Cecilia is the patron of music, and the short form keeps that heritage.

U.S. rank (2006)#15545 ↘ Falling

2006 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1984

Total births (all-time)≈ 48

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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cilia is a rare short form of Cecilia used as a stand-alone name, echoing the way European families clip longer classics. It stayed uncommon, touching a small high around 1984.

Given to only about twenty girls a year at most, it appeared thinly across several decades into the two-thousands. A girl named Cilia at that peak would be in her forties today. The soft three-beat sound feels both vintage and gently exotic.

Did you know? Cecilia, the name behind Cilia, comes from the Roman Caecilius and belongs to the patron saint of musicians, so the trimmed form carries a quietly musical heritage.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Cilia — Short form of Cecilia, Latin Caecilius; St Cecilia, patron of music

Variations

CeciliaCeliaCilla

Nicknames

CeceLiaCil

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cilia…

Celia— the closest cousin short form

Cecilia— the full parent name behind it

Lucia— a like Latin -ia girl's name

Delia— a like soft three-beat name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cilia mean?

It is a short form of Cecilia, from the Roman Caecilius, traditionally read as blind.

How do you pronounce Cilia?

It is said SEE-lee-uh /ˈsiː.li.ə/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Cilia a boy or girl name?

Cilia is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cilia?

It has always been rare, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the mid nineteen-eighties.