 Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. | |
| Pronunciation | /sɪˈsɪliə,-ˈsiːl-/ siss-IL-ee-ə, -EEL- |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Name day | November 22 |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Latin |
| Other names | |
| Nickname(s) | Celia, Ceci, Cece, Celie |
| Related names | Cecelia, Celia, Celina, Sille |
Cecilia is a personal name originating in the name of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music.
The name has been popularly used in Europe (particularly the United Kingdom and Italy, where in 2018 it was the 43rd most popular name for girls born that year), and the United States, where it has ranked among the top 500 names for girls for more than 100 years. It also ranked among the top 100 names for girls born in Sweden in the early years of the 21st century, and was formerly popular in France. [1]
The name "Cecilia" applied generally to Roman women who belonged to the plebeian clan of the Caecilii. Legends and hagiographies, mistaking it for a personal name, suggest fanciful etymologies. Among those cited by Chaucer in "The Second Nun's Tale" are: lily of heaven, the way for the blind, contemplation of heaven and the active life, as if lacking in blindness, and a heaven for people to gaze upon. [2]
Juliana is a feminine given name which is the feminine version of the Roman name Julianus. Juliana or Giuliana was the name of a number of early saints, notably Saint Julian the Hospitaller, which ensured the name's continued popularity in the medieval period.
Saint Cecilia, also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman virgin martyr and is venerated in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She became the patroness of music and musicians, it being written that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia "sang in her heart to the Lord". Musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast, on 22 November, is the occasion of concerts and musical festivals. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome.
Isabel is a female name of Spanish origin. Isabelle is a name that is similar, but it is of French origin. It originates as the medieval Spanish form of Elisabeth. Arising in the 12th century, it became popular in England in the 13th century following the marriage of Isabella of Angoulême to the king of England. Today it is sometimes abbreviated to Isa.
"The Second Nun's Tale", written in late Middle English, is part of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Narrated by a nun who remains unnamed, it is a hagiography of the life of Saint Cecilia.
Danielle is a modern French female variant of the male name Daniel, meaning "God is my judge" in the Hebrew language.
Angelica is a female given name and a variant of Angelika.
Elvira is a female given name. First recorded in medieval Spain, it is likely of Germanic (Gothic) origin.
Luisa, Luísa (Portuguese) or Louise (French) is a feminine given name; it is the feminine form of the given name Louis (Luis), the French form of the Frankish Chlodowig, from the Germanic elements hlod "fame" and wig "combat".
Barbara is a given name used in numerous languages. It is the feminine form of the Greek word barbaros meaning "stranger" or "foreign". In Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox tradition, Saint Barbara was imprisoned in a tower by her father. She was then martyred by her father when she refused to renounce Christianity. According to legend, her father was then punished with death by lightning. As such, Saint Barbara is a protectress against fire and lightning. Early Christians occasionally referred to themselves as "barbarians" in opposition to the pagan Romans and Greeks. The story of Saint Barbara is said to have been an inspiration for the fairy tale Rapunzel and other European stories that feature a maiden in a tower.
Monica is a female given name with many variant forms, including Mónica, Mônica, Monique (French), Monika, Moonika (Estonia), and Mónika (Hungarian).
Adriana, also spelled Adrianna, is a Latin name and feminine form of Adrian. It originates from present day Italy and Spain.
Gabriela is the Portuguese, Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Latvian, Polish and Bulgarian feminine form of the Hebrew name Gabriel.
Rosa is a female given name, especially in the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian languages.
Clara or Klara is a female given name. It is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus which meant "clear, bright, famous". Various early male Christian saints were named Clarus; the feminine form became popular after the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi, one of the followers of Saint Francis, who renounced her privileged background and founded the order of Poor Clares.
Gilda is a 1946 film noir starring Rita Hayworth as the title character.
Camilla and Camila are feminine given names. They originate as the feminine of camillus, a term for a youth serving as acolyte in the ritual of ancient Roman religion, which may be of Etruscan origin.
Martina is a female given name, the female form of Martin and Martino
Ines, and variants, is a feminine given name related to Agnes.
Magdalena is the original version of the given name Magdalene, and is used in West Slavic, Hungarian, German, Lithuanian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Georgian, and other languages.
Celeste or Céleste is a given name or surname which derives from the Latin caelestis, meaning heavenly or celestial.
