Would you consider Cecily an unusual name

[oldnorsesaga]

Definition of unusual name is often taken to be less used name, and in 2021 there was 53 babies named Cecily. But there was also 53 babies named Louise and I'm certain most of you will agree Louise isn't really unusual name. They are both listed as rank 709.

Would that make Cecily unusual name? Or do you think, it's familiar, but not popular name?
I would argue Cecily might be counted as unusual name, but I would still describe it as "normal" name. Kind of like Cordelia is unusual, but most people are familiar with the play and although they would not use it, it would not raise too much eyebrows. Do you agree?

full data about names beyond top 100 can be found in these documents https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls

Liked it (esp as mum is called Cecilia), but shortened it is Cess or Silly. Neither great.

I know one in her 50s and one who is a toddler. Both Thames Estuary oddly enough, one Essex, one Kent. I wonder if it’s more popular around that area?

I would say Cecily was an uncommon name not an unusual name. Louise has gone out of fashion now but it was quite well used in the past.

It’s a very old name and personally, I think it’s pretty. It’s derived from Cecelia, I think, which is even prettier imho. I’ve only known one Cecily, but I wish I’d thought of it for my DD, it’s unusual.

I’d say it’s quite uncommon but definitely not unusual.

There were 2 in now 19 year old DD’s relatively small primary school. It’s a name that I always admired!

Louise isn’t unusual. Although there weren’t many babies given the name, there are lots and lots of women in their 30s and 40s called Louise

Exactly- there are thousands of Louises among us!

Cecily being used 53 in 2021 is not unusual either. My dc name was used 21 times in their birth year.

I used to know one, she went by Cece and would have been over 100 by now. I think it's a pretty name.

It's certainly uncommon but it is a well known name so not unusual in that sense. I know one teenager and one of my dolls when I was a child.

I think it's just not popular, lots of people will know the name so to me it's not unusual. For a nickname you could borrow Cecy from the 'What Katy Did' books.

Or change it a bit and go for Cicely instead.

Fairly unusual, and really lovely.

I imagine there’ll be a few more now as a result of this thread.

Uncommon, but not weird. I think it is lovely and Ceecee is very sweet for a baby.

I knew one, in her 80s. I think it's a pretty name.

Gorgeous name . As a reader of historical novels there is Cecilly Neville Duchess of York and mother to 2 kings. A very strong and astute lady.

It's a very pretty name.
It sounds very Edwardian to me.
It probably fizzled out in popularity after that era so would have become a rare name.
Louise however - a name I like but every other girl born in the 60s/70s was probably named Louise so people think of it as more popular - even though it's not used so much now.

Yes, beautiful, elegant and fairly uncommon yet well known - Cecily reminds me of the Plantagenets (I think there were a couple of Cecily’s).
I’d put names like Antonia, Claudia, Serena (and indeed, Cecilia and Celia) in the same category as Cecily- timeless and underused.

Louise is very different- very classic and underused now but it was popular for so long that it doesn’t feel quite as timeless to me ( in that I’d guess a Louise more likely to be 40’s or older) - similar style names might be Helen, Sarah, Laura etc.

Only ever one and she was born around the turn of the lady century.

I think it's a beautiful name

What's the lady century?

Last century?

Slightly, I think of my grandmothers neighbour who died 30 years ago. She was a Cecily.

Bloody autocorrect! Yes, last century 🤦‍♀️

I was picturing a lady in edwardian clothes with a parasol.

No parasol but about the right age

I think it's quite unusual, but I've met one young one, who would now be about 15.