Cecily

[Notmyrealname855]

Our cousin is about to name her daughter Cecily and keeps pronouncing it Ses-ily

Thing is... I’ve known three Cecily’s (two old ladies, one other baby). All pronounced it Sis-ily.

Please tell us the correct pronunciation! I cringe at her way of saying it, but maybe that’s right in some parts of the UK?

I would pronounce it the way your cousin pronounces it. It's a lovely name.

Well, it's a version of Cecilia, which is usually Seh-see-lee- ah English.

This is what English and American contributors to Forvo say (audio clips): forvo.com/word/cecily/

If it's said very quickly, it can sound a bit like 'Sis-uh-lee'.

There is another version, spelled Cicely : Siss-eh-lee

Canadian here, it's definitely Cess-uh-lee on this side of the pond, so more or less the way your cousin is pronouncing it. If she first heard it on North American TV or film that may be the reason? I'm not sure I've ever met one in my 15 years living in the UK, so I wouldn't know how it was pronounced here!

As PP has said, Cicely is a whole other name, which has less ambiguity in its pronunciation, and is said the way you prefer.

I know a Cicely pronounced Sis-ily. Could you be getting Cicely and Cecily confused? I know I did a double take!

Cecily is pronounced SESS-illy. Gorgeous name.

Cicely is pronounced SISS-ully.

The only Cecily I know pronounced it Sess-uh-lee. then changed her name in her late teens as she hated it so much

I'd say it the same way as your cousin.

@Notmyrealname855 same way as your cousin, Cecily ie feminine version of Cecil. Cicely different name and pronounced the way you do.

Your cousin is right.

Cecily and Cicely are two different names. We have a Cecily and pronounce it Sess-illy.

Both are acceptable.

SESSILLY

bravo on your choice OP, I love that name

I would also pronounce Cecily as Sess-uh-Lee and Cicely as Siss-uh-Lee.

so embarrassed! Thank you all