New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Cecil
One of my friends told me this was his favorite boys' name a few years ago, and I thought he was crazy, but it popped up when I was responding to the Name Challenge today, and now I think it's grown on me...
So, wdyto Cecil?
So, wdyto Cecil?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I like it. I think I like it better than the Portuguese form Cecilio.
1
I like it, but I haven't thought about it much ever since I told my mum I liked it a few years ago and she looked at me like I was crazy. But that doesn't bother me now, and I've started considering it more recently, partly because I'm doing the Tudors and learned quite a bit more about William and Robert Cecil haha.
1
I've been thinking about it recently too. There is a 4th grade student at my school (USA) named Cecil and I love to heard the kids call him by name. Too much soft C for my personal taste, but it's a cool name.
I agree with Tuesday that it sounds a bit comical. I also agree with genie that Cyril is preferable, but I think both are quite usable.
I agree with Tuesday that it sounds a bit comical. I also agree with genie that Cyril is preferable, but I think both are quite usable.
1
I used to like it and actually have forgotten about it. I suppose I still think it's nice, but I've never liked it enough to consider using it. It was the middle name of one of my friends in high school, which I thought was awesome. I think it's nice and baseball-y a la Cecil Fielder.
A question: How do you pronounce it, SESS-l or SEES-l?
Cecil Fielder said it SESS-l, but I'd pronounce it SEES-l otherwise.
A question: How do you pronounce it, SESS-l or SEES-l?
Cecil Fielder said it SESS-l, but I'd pronounce it SEES-l otherwise.
This message was edited 12/15/2015, 7:48 AM
1
My strongest associations with Cecil are William Cecil and Robert Cecil, and I've only ever heard it pronounced SESS-əl in relation to them. I'd assume SEES-əl was French.
1
I've only ever heard the SEES-l version in an American context - very rarely, on CNN news, but first in the 1974 Great Gatsby movie, where someone - Tom perhaps, or Gatsby himself - is saying the names of party guests out loud and at least one of them or possibly two were SEES-ls. I was amazed, because my late father was one of the last of the South African Cecils and also because of Cecil John Rhodes, an English immigrant to South Africa during the gold rush who became politically and financially notorious. So I imagine that SESS-l is the British form (my grandparents were Brits).
1
I think I always pronounced it SES-il until I listened to Welcome to Night Vale, where it's pronounced SEES-il.
But then at my husband's family reunion this summer, it was pronounced SES-il. SEES-il feels more friendly and approachable though. I agree with noel about SES-il feeling pompous.
But then at my husband's family reunion this summer, it was pronounced SES-il. SEES-il feels more friendly and approachable though. I agree with noel about SES-il feeling pompous.
1
SEE-səl has a rural/southern(US) vibe to me, and that's how I'd pronounce it intuitively.
SES-əl sounds more proper, and I feel a little pompous saying it. The more I say it, the more I like it, though.
I don't think I have a preference.
SES-əl sounds more proper, and I feel a little pompous saying it. The more I say it, the more I like it, though.
I don't think I have a preference.
1
I prefer SESS-l, but when I met a Cecil he pronounced it SEES-l. I don't come across it very often.
1
My late Dad was one of the last of the Cecils, though there are a couple of young ones where I live, playing competitive sport at top level so it can happen.
I'd have happily used Cecily, given enough daughters. But not Cecil. It happens, when it happens, in a segment of society that isn't mine, plus there's the colonial hang-over of Cecil John Rhodes! And the possibility that he might have to explain that it was actually Sessil, not Seesil!
I'd have happily used Cecily, given enough daughters. But not Cecil. It happens, when it happens, in a segment of society that isn't mine, plus there's the colonial hang-over of Cecil John Rhodes! And the possibility that he might have to explain that it was actually Sessil, not Seesil!
1
Cecil used to be one of my GPs, but recently I've been considering as something I would actually use. I like it a lot!
1
Seems too much like a grandpa name for my taste.
1
I think Cecil is funny. Like a funny sidekick meant for comic relief. He'd be a super nice guy but not very assertive.
At the same time I find it very earthy and dark green, like pine needles specifically. Overall likable name, but not my style.
At the same time I find it very earthy and dark green, like pine needles specifically. Overall likable name, but not my style.
1