Sibyl

Meaning of Sibyl

Pronounced SYE-buhl, Sibyl is a female given name rooted in Latin sibylla and Greek sibulla, both meaning “prophetess.” In ancient Rome the title designated priestesses at Delphi, Cumae and other sacred sites whose oracles guided religious practice and inspired poets such as Virgil in his depiction of the Cumaean Sibyl. The name later resurfaced in medieval and Renaissance Europe as a marker of mystical insight and authority. Today in the United States Sibyl remains rare—11 newborns received the name in 2024, ranking it 939th—yet it continues to appeal to parents seeking a name with classical pedigree.