Cyrils

Cyrils is the plural form of the given name Cyril. It is used to refer to multiple people who share the name and to summarize its historical and cultural associations. The name Cyril comes from the Greek Kyrillos, generally interpreted as “lordly” or “belonging to the lord,” formed from kyr- meaning lord with a diminutive suffix.

Historically, several saints named Cyril helped popularize the name in Christian Europe and the Mediterranean. Notable examples include Cyril the Apostle to the Slavs (Cyril the Philosopher) and Cyril of Alexandria, both influential in theology, education, and the spread of literacy. Through these figures, Cyril became common in Orthodox and Catholic contexts and spread across Slavic and other European languages.

In modern usage, Cyrils appear in many countries with diverse linguistic forms. Variants include Cyril in English, Kirill in Russian, Kyryl or Kyrylo in some Slavic languages, and Kiril in Bulgarian. The English plural Cyrils is commonly used when referring to multiple people named Cyril, such as public figures or historical namesakes.

The name is also connected to the Cyrillic script, named after Saint Cyril. The Cyrillic alphabet, developed in the Slavic world and later adopted widely, is used for many languages in Eurasia and has numerous regional varieties. The association with Cyril underscores the historical link between the name and literacy, education, and written tradition.

See also: Cyril, Cyrillic script, Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.