Cicely: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#7,975

among girls · ↑4,463 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Cicely

How common

1 in 123,636

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1974

256 babies

All-time total

2,391

#4,167 all-time among girls

First recorded

1917

in Social Security records

Cicely popularity over time

2,391 babies have been named Cicely since 1917, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	10	1	–	#4,710
1920s	29	3	+190%	#3,179
1930s	16	2	-45%	#3,833
1940s	24	2	+50%	#3,749
1950s	6	1	-75%	#5,144
1960s	52	5	+767%	#4,224
1970s	1,071	107	+1960%	#608
1980s	530	53	-51%	#1,431
1990s	261	26	-51%	#3,228
2000s	200	20	-23%	#4,411
2010s	137	14	-32%	#5,171
2020s (to 2025)	55	9	-33%	#6,751

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.

How old are people named Cicely?

The median living Cicely is about 45 years old; half are between 32 and 50. An estimated 2,300 people named Cicely are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Cicely Tyson American actress (1924–2021) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cicely, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cicely?

The median living Cicely is about 45 years old. Half of all living Cicelys are between 32 and 50 years old.

How many people named Cicely are alive today?

An estimated 2,300 people named Cicely are alive in the United States, based on 2,391 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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

Names that sound and feel close to Cicely: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cicely with similar names → More names starting with C →