Can Cecily be a nickname for Cecilia or are they separate names?

[JudithTaverner]

Sorry if you've seen my other thread on this - I am possibly overthinking it now! I like both Cecily and Cecilia for diffrent reasons - Cecily seems v sweet and Cecilia seems stronger/more grown up. Can Cecily be a nn for Cecilia or are they separate names?

They come from the same Latin root (the family name Caecilia; it's Celia from caelum (heaven) via Caelia that is similar but different). So I don't see why you shouldn't.

I wouldn't do it, because of the first vowel change between the two, so they don't sound that linked to me (though I can think of other names/nns where the vowels change and it doesn't bother me, so I suppose it is all just my personal oddities).

As far as I know they are definitely two separate names. I wouldn't do it. But that's just a personal thing and why not if that's what you want.

just bumping this to see what other people think - still completely undecided on dd4s name and she is 10 days old now!

Hmmm, not really. It's a bit like having Isabel as a nn for Isabella or Emily as a nn for Emilia.

Usually a nn is something much shorter than the original name - because it's easier to say/spell - so it would be unusual to have a 3 syllable nn that is almost as long as the original name.

So Cici or Cecy would be the usual nns for both I'd have thought.

FWIW I think Cecily is just as grown up/strong as Cecilia (if anything Cecilia is a bit more "frilly/girly" to my ears). I would call her Cecily...

Congratulations by the way

Firstly, congratulations on your new baby

I love both names, my friend is Cecily (Cecily Mary Rose to include her middle names) and I think it's a beautiful name. We shorten it to Ceci (pronounced Ses-si) which is a lovely diminutive.

I think Cecilia would be shortened to Celia more easily, which isn't quite so pretty as Cecily/Ceci.