Irish girl name
Síle Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Síle means form of cecilia. Irish form of Cecilia, which comes from a Roman family name
Síle is the Irish form of Cecilia, the name of the Roman patron saint of music. In Ireland the name was widely used from the medieval period and gave rise to the English spellings Sheila, Sheelagh and Sheelah. Older Irish folk art includes the Sheela na Gig, though scholars debate the origin of that name. Síle remains the standard Irish spelling today and is used by the politician Síle de Valera. It is short and rhythmic, with the fada showing the long vowel in the first syllable. Families who love a classic name with a fresh Irish look may find it appealing.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Síle
SheilaSheelaghSheelahSile
Well-known people named Síle
Síle de Valera.
Síle popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Síle ranked #589 in Ireland (5 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (girls)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Síle mean?
Síle means "form of cecilia". Irish form of Cecilia, which comes from a Roman family name.
How do you pronounce Síle?
Síle is pronounced SHEE-la.
What is the origin of Síle?
Síle is of Irish origin. Irish form of Cecilia, which comes from a Roman family name.