Sheila

Sheila is a girl's name that is considered an anglicized form of the Irish name Sile. This name is in turn a Gaelic-Irish variant of Cecilia. The origin of the name can be traced back to the ancient Roman family name Caecilius, which likely has Etruscan roots.

What does the name Sheila mean?

Sheila, as the anglicized version of the Irish Sile, is a Gaelic-Irish derivation of Cecilia. This first name goes back to the Roman family name Caecilius, whose original meaning was 'the one belonging to the family of the Caecilii'. Over time, however, it was folk-etymologically reinterpreted and today stands for 'the blind one' or 'the one-eyed'. Its roots lie in Latin, derived from the word caecus, meaning 'blind' or 'one-eyed'. The name Sheila is especially common in the English-speaking world but can also be found in other spellings in various countries, including some Eastern European states and the Orient. Variants include Shayla, Sheyla, Shelagh, Sheela, Sheelagh, and Sheilag. The popularity of the name is partly due to the veneration of Saint Cecilia of Rome, who is regarded as the patron saint of church music.

Where does the name Sheila come from?

The origin of the name Sheila is Latin and means 'the blind one' or 'the one-eyed'. The Latin word caecus stands for 'blind' or 'one-eyed'. The languages in which the name appears are English and Irish.

How do you pronounce Sheila?

The pronunciation of Sheila is two syllables and has an open vocal sound. The name is usually pronounced as 'Schi-la' [ˈʃiːla], with the beginning starting with a gentle sh sound that transitions into a long i. This gives the name a bright and flowing start. The final part '-la' provides a rounded, harmonious finish. Overall, Sheila sounds friendly, fluid, and has a slightly international character – soft yet clearly structured.

When is the name day of Sheila?

The name day for Sheila is celebrated on November 22.

Popularity

In Germany, Sheila is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,884th in the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2005, when it reached 185th place. In the last ten years, Sheila has been given as a first name about 60 times, placing it 3,309th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,804th.

Nicknames & pet names

Eila / Shei / Sheilchen / Sheili / Sheilinski / Sheils / Sheiska / Shelly / Shey / Shi / Shila / Shili / Shilinske / Shilla / Shilli / Shilu / Shisha / Shishi

Similar first names

Sheyla

Famous people

• Sheila Allen (American actress)
• Sheila Ann Mary Coates Holland (English writer)
• Sheila Armstrong (fencer from the USA)
• Sheila Bender (writer from America)
• Sheila Bromley (American actress)
• Sheila Brown Napaltjarri (Australian artist)
• Sheila Callaghan (writer from America)
• Sheila E. (musician)
• Sheila Echols (American sprinter)
• Sheila Ellison (American writer)
• Sheila Escovedo (American musician)
• Sheila F. Gagen (American composer)
• Sheila Gordon (writer from Canada)
• Sheila Hancock (British actress)
• Sheila Hicks (American artist)
• Sheila Hoskin (British long jumper)
• Sheila Ingram (American sprinter)
• Sheila Jones Harms (British singer)
• Sheila Jordan (American singer)
• Sheila MacRae (actress from England)