The Pronunciation of Cecily

Katie writes:

I noticed that you recommend the name Cecily a lot. It’s one of my favourite names to look at but I can’t figure out if it’s pronounced Cess-a-lee or Suh-see-lee. Which one would be the more common, “go to” pronunciation?

I say it Sess-ah-lee—and would not recommend the name if I thought it were pronounced with a Suss. Let’s have a poll over to the right!

[Never mind! I misunderstood the question! See new post/poll!]

10 thoughts on “The Pronunciation of Cecily

  1. Anonymous

    It’s pronounced SES-i-lee (i.e. similar to the way Sicily is pronounced; indeed, Cicely is a variant of Cecily).

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    I think the queation should be how do you pronounce the second syllable. Is the name Ses-i-lee, or Ses-ah-lee?? That’s where I’ve always thought there could be a difference in the pronunciation. I never really thought there would have been a question of the pronunciation of the first syllable.

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  3. C

    I read the question as which syllable should be stressed: so, SES-i-lee, or, as Cait said, suh-SEEL-ee, like the beginning of Cecilia. (The poll on the right doesn’t quite make that distinction.)

    Reply
  4. Brigid

    I’ve always heard SESS-uh-lee
    Whether uh sounds like a soft i or a soft a…probably doesn’t really matter, as my ear can hardly distinguish it. I imagine that’s more a matter of accent.

    The Italian city is SISS-il-ee. Cecilia is sess-EEL-ee-a.

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  5. Anonymous

    Cecelia without the a or like Sicily with a Sess beginning is what I’m hearing. I have never heard it pronounced like Cecelia without the a, I’ve only every heard Sess-uh-lee :)

    Reply
  6. Tam

    I agree with “C” that I think the original question was wondering where the emphasis is put, 1st or 2nd syllable, not really on a “Seh” or “Suh” distinction. And anyway, even if you think “Seh” it can come out sounding a bit like “Suh” when you say it quickly.

    Reply

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