Cecily
Girl name · #1540 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 137 baby girls were named Cecily, placing it at #1540 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1175, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,139 girls born in 2025 was named Cecily.
Babies named Cecily per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 114-year story
Cecily first appears in the Social Security records in 1911, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1989, when 472 girls were named Cecily — good for #497 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cecily against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cecily in class?
Cecily scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Cecily is most common
Geography matters for names, and Cecily is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Cecilys were TX (14), NY (13), CA (12), PA (10), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Cecily
Statistically, parents drawn to Cecily tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Amberly, Chanel, Carly, Ashly, and Stormy.
AmberlyChanelCarlyAshlyStormyCarinaKaceyColby
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cecily | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 137 | #1540 |
| 2024 | 131 | #1598 |
| 2023 | 111 | #1813 |
| 2022 | 131 | #1612 |
| 2021 | 127 | #1641 |
| 2020 | 131 | #1593 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1392 |
| 2018 | 141 | #1540 |
| 2017 | 191 | #1244 |
| 2016 | 196 | #1241 |
| 2015 | 214 | #1175 |
| 2014 | 244 | #1061 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1371 |
| 2012 | 114 | #1791 |
| 2011 | 104 | #1909 |
| 2010 | 98 | #2028 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1914 |
| 2008 | 112 | #1890 |
| 2007 | 99 | #2059 |
| 2006 | 119 | #1743 |
| 2005 | 101 | #1911 |
| 2004 | 88 | #2067 |
| 2003 | 100 | #1845 |
| 2002 | 87 | #2004 |
| 2001 | 98 | #1807 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cecily a popular girl name?
Cecily ranked #1540 among girls in 2025 with 137 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1175.
When was the name Cecily most popular?
Cecily peaked in 1989, when 472 American girls received the name (ranked #497 that year). Since 1989 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cecily?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,139 newborn American girls was named Cecily. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.