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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Celia!

Comments and insights on the name Celia: | Edit

Alternate pronunciation (Spanish): SELL-ee-uh.

Personal experiences with the name Celia: | Edit

We named our daughter Celia. Not only is it my paternal grandmother's name, it is also a name from Shakespearean times (the play "As You Like It" featured the leads "Oliver" and "Celia," and we already had a son named Oliver). The poet Ben Jonson wrote "To Celia," the classic poem that begins, "Drink to me with thine eyes..."

It is a beautiful, timeless name and we are pleased with it and it fits her very well.

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My parents named me Celia Catherine in 1994 and I'm very unhappy with my first name. I think it's an unattractive spelling. Most people pronounce it Sil-yuh, when it should be pronounced See-lee-uh. I'm content when it's pronounced correctly, but most people can't say it even after being corrected. I wouldn't recommend naming your child Celia; I'm slightly upset with my parents giving me this name.

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OK! My name is Celia Cristina and I was named after my grandmother & Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz. (I am Cuban, also.) I love my name. Just like the girl above me I get EXTREMELY annoyed when people slaughter my name. If it's not them pronouncing it "sell-yah" or "seal-e-uh"! Granted those are the most common ways of pronouncing it, it still bothers me. I only tend to get annoyed when I repeatedly tell the person the correct way, and they still mess it up, though. I love my name. Not many of us and it can be pronounced with totally different ways, and has a lot of nicknames, too. I wouldn't change my name, although when I was younger I definitely wanted too. Kids are kids.. no matter what your name is, if a kid wants to come up with something to rhyme with it, they will.

My name is Celia and was one of many who was also named after my grandmother....and I too understand about the many different ways it can be mispronounced like sill-ee-uh or cecelia when its not! I do happen to know many ways it can be used as a nickname like CC as previously commented or just plain sell-ee...as I am formerly called. I think the nickname Cell-ee has a much prettier and more feminine vibe to it for many of you who may be called Celia and feel they can be more comfortable with the name...I know I do, its because of that nickname that I really enjoy my name. Of course since it did derive from the Latin origin I preffer having my name pronounced with a Spanish pronounciation like cel-ee-uh, but that's the way I preffer along with other Latina girls. I also recall that the name means heavenly.

Nicknames for Celia: | Edit

I have the spanish version of this name "SELL-ee-UH" and I love the nicknames that I've gained over the years with it. The most common name is Cel, which I love. Lia, CC cause my middle name is Celia Cristina. ALSO - for the other ways this name is pronounced theres Seal, Lia, and I'm sure quite a few more! Original to say the least.

Meanings and history of the name Celia: | Edit

Celia means blind from what I've gathered on it, haha. ALSO read that it means heaven. :)

Famous real-life people named Celia: | Edit

Celia Ammerman, American model
Celia Cruz, Cuban salsa singer
Celia Hammond, former 60's supermodel and current animal-rights activist
Ana Celia de Armas, Cuban actress

Celia in song, story & screen: | Edit

Celia, a heroine in Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It
Celia, a contestant on the TV show America's Next Top Model