Seila
A girl's name with 74 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
definite plural of seil
Seila is a girl's baby name of Basque origin, the Basque form of Cecilia — from the Latin Caecilia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, possibly from caecus ('blind'). Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians, martyred in Rome in the 2nd or 3rd century, whose music-while-dying became one of the most powerful images of Christian martyrdom.
Seila carries Saint Cecilia's musical legacy in the specific phonetics of the Basque language — the ancient Pyrenean tongue giving one of Christianity's most beloved saints' names its own distinctive form, carrying the patron of musicians' heritage with the specific beauty of Euskara's sounds.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Seila is a girl's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (1998–2024). American naming is uniquely syncretic — it borrows from dozens of traditions, invents freely, and recombines elements in ways that make strict etymological tracing difficult for many names.
Today, Seila is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #11944), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Seila was #11458 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11944, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14 | #13412 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 28 | #17171 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 26 | #12761 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 6 | #13789 | — |
The Story of Seila
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2003, Seila is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Seila are most likely born between 1998 and 2013.
How rare is Seila?
Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Seila — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1998, peaked in the 2010s with 28 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Seila by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(11 years, 1998–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | #11944 |
| 2023 | 6 | #14879 |
| 2018 | 6 | #15364 |
| 2015 | 6 | #16114 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18834 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19091 |
| 2011 | 6 | #16452 |
| 2007 | 6 | #17249 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11458 |
| 2003 | 11 | #9577 |
| 1998 | 6 | #13789 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seila a boy's or girl's name?
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How popular is the name Seila?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1998–2024