Sissela as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Sissela

What is the meaning of the name Sissela ?

The baby name Sissela is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈsɪsɛla/ (SIS-seh-lah).

Sissela is Swedish in Origin.

Sissela is the Swedish vernacular form of Cecilia, ultimately from the Roman family name Caecilia, derived from caecus “blind” (often read in Christian tradition as spiritual humility). Through devotion to Saint Cecilia, patron of music, the name spread across medieval Europe and settled in the Nordic languages, where Sissela emerged as a familiar Swedish spelling and sound.

In Sweden the name saw steady use through the 20th century, buoyed by bearers such as ethicist Sissela Bok and actors Sissela Kyle and Sissela Benn. Related Nordic forms include Sissel and Sidsel (Norwegian/Danish), while international counterparts span Cecilia, Cecilie, Cecily, Cécile/Cecile, and Celia, with diminutives like Cilla, Sissi, and Sisse. The meaning remains that of Cecilia - “blind; dim-sighted” - reflecting its ancient Latin root rather than any modern attribute. Sissela offers a distinctly Scandinavian twist on a classic, with a soft, sibilant profile.