Celia is ranked 866 on SSA and I’m wondering why it’s so underused! Is it highly disliked??
What do you think when you first hear the name “Celia” ?? Select multiple options from the Poll or comment below!
Adorable Seals.I don’t think it’s fair for me to vote, seeing as my name is [name_f]Celia[/name_f], but I’ll say that I always get a lot of compliments on my name! I’ve been told it feels like a “mermaid name” haha. I’ve never gotten a celiac disease or seal comment.
[name_f]Celia[/name_f] is a traditional but old-fashioned name. The Celias I’ve met are between 40 and 70 years old. I can see the appeal in this name. It’s short and sweet, international and underused nowadays.
I don’t have any strong reason to dislike it. I just don’t love its sound. Perhaps it is not my style. I work in healthcare care and celiac disease would not be my first association with [name_f]Celia[/name_f]. I would probably not cross my mind if you hadn’t mentioned it. Seals are absolutely adorable and beautiful. However, I also don’t associate [name_f]Celia[/name_f] with seals.
I like [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] because it reminds me of the sky. I imagine stars and lights. I know [name_f]Celia[/name_f] has a similar meaning, but it doesn’t give me the same vibe/imaginary.
Honestly, none of these are associations I have for [name_f]Celia[/name_f]. I think of the character from Shakespeare’s As You Like It first, and of ballerinas second. It’s also very ethereal and heavenly sounding to me, probably due to its closeness to ciel/o
@tallemaja glad you get positive comments and compliments!! That is always so great to hear! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you ever have pronunciation or spelling issues? [name_m]Or[/name_m] confusion that people don’t recognize the name?
@Estrela I like it for all the reasons you mention but for some reason I instantly think of seals LOL I suppose if I names my daughter that I could get past it! I have only ever met one person named [name_f]Celia[/name_f] and she is around 10… I suppose the majority are older and I just dont interact that often with that particular generation in my work! Thank you for your input!
@GreenEyes375 Thank you! This is good info!
It reminds me of celestial and has a sparkly, starry feel to me
I think [name_f]Celia[/name_f] nn [name_m]Seal[/name_m] would be cute! If you love it, please use it! It has a lovely meaning.
I believe [name_f]Celia[/name_f] is easily recognized and easy to spell.
I’m not from an English-speaking country, so unfortunately I can’t talk about the pronunciation/spelling issues you’d encounter over there 
As for name confusion, some folks mishear it as [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] if I’m not deliberately speaking very clearly, but it’s an easy correction to make and it’s never bothered me!
[name_f]My[/name_f] first association is [name_f]Harvest[/name_f] [name_f]Moon[/name_f] as that’s where I first encountered the name, so I think of a sweet little farm girl. She’s all sunflowers and bumblebees to me. 
I think of little hairs called cilia
I definitely think of seals but I still love it so cute!
my great great grandmother was celia, and i think it is the most beautiful name 
I love [name_f]Celia[/name_f]! I don’t know why it isn’t more popular. Maybe the celiac disease association? (though that’s not what I think of first or anything).
I’m a certified health coach who often hears about celiac disease and I never made that connection until I read your options. It makes me think of Mike’s girlfriend in Monster’s Inc. The one with snakes for hair. I don’t think that’s a bad association though. I don’t dislike [name_f]Celia[/name_f], but wouldn’t use it personally. I guess it’s just not my style. I see nothing wrong with it though.
Yes I forgot about that one!!
@Estrela that is something my husband likes about the name. There isn’t a multitude of different spellings and pronunciations!
@tallemaja i could see [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] but glad to hear it’s not so often to bother you. Thank you for the input!!
@shorie i think of seals immediately too but I think (hopefully) we are in the minority of that!!
@emeraldsea love this!!
@lucy_halo1 yea I didn’t think of celiac either but have read that some do. I think it’s lovely as well so was surprised to see it so underused!!
@benton_s_mama rhank you for your info!! I’m glad that’s not what you think of right away! Totally get if it’s not your style 
[name_f]My[/name_f] youngest daughter is [name_f]Celia[/name_f]. I first heard of it in school in the play As You Like It. She doesn’t like her name. But I did. it was sweet, simple and different at the time. [name_f]My[/name_f] daughter likes [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] and [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]. . However, i don’t like my name either,
I really like it, I picked old fashioned / classic which it undoubtedly is, but I think it brings other slants within that… it’s more musically feminine than my usual taste (not generally a fan of the -ia endings), but I think because it’s so short for a 3 syllable name and rolls off the tongue so easily it doesn’t feel elaborate, frilly or flouncy? It has a certain sleekness which appeals. Then there’s the celestial angle, I agree with another pp that it doesn’t conjure up this imagery as directly and readily as Celeste because the vowel sound is different, but the meaning is still there. Then there’s also a contrasting vintage / cottagecore / twee thing, then again a contrasting elegant and refined Shakespearean thing… it’s a versatile name that can feel very different depending on how you think of it. For this reason I think it’s quite an intriguing choice whilst also being simple and familiar, which is a great mix of qualities.
I used to prefer the Selia spelling but, as well as the fact it would always need the spelling corrected from the default, I think I’ve come to prefer the pleasing visual roundedness of Celia anyway… Selia has started to feel a bit serpentine.
I don’t think of coeliac disease or seals.
Genuinely love [name_f]Celia[/name_f], it’s so spunky and bright. I instinctively pronounce it (and prefer) SEHL-yah, but I don’t mind SEE-lee-uh either. It makes me think of [name_f]Celia[/name_f] [name_m]Cruz[/name_m], so very lively sounding while having that retro flare to it. I think it’s really sweet 
In addition to my votes in the poll I also think of the character in the book The [name_m]Night[/name_m] Circus. [name_m]Prior[/name_m] to reading the book and having seen it used the similarity in sound to Celiac was more prominent to me. Now its like my third thought but I still put in a vote for that as well.