girls' name · peaked 1974

Cicely

A female given name from Latin, a variant of Cecily and Cecilia used since the Middle Ages.

Every Cicely since 1917 — 2,391 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1974Girls
Rank 2025
#7,975
among girls
Babies in 2025
13
named Cicely
Peak year
1974
256 babies
All-time total
2,391
since 1917

The story of Cicely

Cicely is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,975 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1917, 2,391 American babies have been named Cicely. Its peak came in 1974, when 256 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cicely stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Cicely year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 13 #7,975
2024 7 #12,438
2023 8 #11,407
2022 10 #9,849
2021 17 #6,751
2020
2019 11 #9,257
2018 11 #9,300
2017 10 #10,130
2016 16 #7,333
2015 9 #11,095
2014 11 #9,690
2013 26 #5,171
2012 8 #12,463
2011 15 #7,881
2010 20 #6,438
2009 16 #7,762
2008 13 #9,072
2007 20 #6,611
2006 22 #5,963
2005 24 #5,307
2004 14 #7,925
2003 17 #6,656
2002 28 #4,411
2001 19 #5,859
2000 27 #4,429
1995 35 #3,232
1990 17 #5,338
1985 32 #2,873
1980 79 #1,503
1975 119 #1,012
1970 13 #4,270
1965 5 #6,689
1960
1955
1950
1945 5 #4,669
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920 6 #4,485
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Cicely

  1. Cicely Tyson Actor · b. 1924

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Cicely mean?

A female given name from Latin, a variant of Cecily and Cecilia used since the Middle Ages.

How popular is the name Cicely in 2025?

Cicely ranked #7,975 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Cicely?

2,391 babies have been named Cicely in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cicely most popular?

Cicely peaked in 1974, when 256 newborns received the name.

Is Cicely a boy or girl name?

Cicely is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cicely rising or falling?

Cicely is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Cicely?

Well-known people named Cicely include Cicely Tyson (actor).

Names like Cicely

Compare Cicely with similar names →