Baby Names That Start With C: 41 Girl & Boy Names With Meanings
C names run from soft and romantic (Clara, Cecilia, Celeste) to crisp and sturdy (Carter, Cole, Conrad). This list gathers 41 names that start with C, each with its meaning, language of origin and a short note on how it feels in real life.
Reviewed
Where an etymology is uncertain, as with Cordelia, Cyrus and Cormac, we say so. Names are grouped by gender, ordered roughly from classic to distinctive.
Our top picks
Girl names (19)
- CalliopeGreekbeautiful voiceThe muse of epic poetry; dramatic and musical.
- CamilaLatinyoung ceremonial attendant (from Roman Camilla)A Spanish and Portuguese favourite with a flowing sound.
- CamilleFrenchyoung ceremonial attendantChic and gender-flexible in France.
- CarolineGermanicfree man (feminine of Charles)Elegant and timeless, with the nickname Carrie or Callie.
- CassandraGreekuncertain; the Trojan prophetess no one believedDramatic and literary, with the nickname Cassie.
- CeciliaLatinfrom the Roman family name Caecilius, linked to 'blind'Saint Cecilia is the patron of music.
- CelesteLatinheavenlyA dreamy celestial name that feels light and rare.
- CharlotteFrenchfree man (feminine of Charles)A royal favourite for years, with sweet nicknames Lottie and Charlie.
- ChloeGreekyoung green shootA fresh spring name and a Greek epithet of Demeter.
- ClaraLatinbright, clearA gentle, old-fashioned classic.
- ClaireFrenchbright, clearCrisp and polished.
- ClementineLatinmerciful, mildSweet and vintage, with the nickname Clem.
- CleoGreekglory (from kleos)Short, bold and stylish.
- ColetteFrenchvictory of the people (short form of Nicolette)Made famous by the French novelist.
- ConstanceLatinconstancy, steadfastnessA virtue name with a nickname Connie.
- CoraGreekmaidenShort, vintage and heartfelt.
- CordeliaUncertainuncertain; possibly linked to Latin cor, 'heart'Shakespeare's loyal daughter in 'King Lear'.
- CosimaGreekorder, harmonyRare, European and elegant.
- CynthiaGreekfrom Mount Cynthus (an epithet of Artemis)A mid-century classic with a goddess link.
Boy names (19)
- CalebHebrewwhole-hearted or faithful (the Hebrew word also means 'dog', a sign of loyalty)A biblical spy and a steady, sturdy classic.
- CallumScottishdove (from Columba)A friendly Scottish classic.
- CalvinFrench / Latinbald (from Latin calvus)Short, bookish and warm; nickname Cal.
- CameronScottish Gaeliccrooked nose (a clan name)A surname-name that also works for girls.
- CarterEnglishcart driverAn occupational surname that has become a modern favourite.
- CaspianEnglishof the Caspian SeaA Narnia prince; adventurous and rare.
- CasperPersiantreasurerLinked to one of the three kings in the Nativity.
- CassianLatinfrom the Roman family name CassiusA smooth, modern-feeling classic.
- CharlesGermanicfree manA royal classic with the nicknames Charlie and Chuck.
- ChristianGreekfollower of ChristSimple, familiar and international.
- ChristopherGreekbearer of ChristMany nicknames: Chris, Kit, Topher.
- ClarkEnglishclerk, scholarVintage and trim; Clark Kent adds a hero's glow.
- ClementLatinmercifulA papal name that feels gentle and rare.
- ColinGaelic / Frenchyoung creature; also a short form of NicholasFriendly and British-feeling.
- ConradGermanicbrave counselStrong, literary and distinctive.
- ConnorIrishlover of hounds (from Conchobar)A popular Irish surname-name.
- CooperEnglishbarrel makerA friendly occupational name.
- CormacIrishuncertain; borne by several Irish kingsStrong and literary, as in Cormac McCarthy.
- CyrusPersianuncertain; the name of Cyrus the GreatAncient, regal and easy to say.
Unisex names (3)
- CaseyIrishvigilant, watchful (from Cathasach)Easygoing and flexible.
- CharlieEnglishfree man (from Charles)Friendly, used as a stand-alone name for boys and girls.
- CassidyIrishcurly-hairedWarm, with Wild West flair.
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How to choose
Decide how you want the C to sound
C is pronounced two ways: hard, like K (Caleb, Cooper, Cora) or soft, like S (Cecilia, Celeste, Cyrus). Parents often prefer one sound across siblings, and the soft C in particular can be misspelled or mispronounced, so say it out loud before you commit.
Look for built-in nicknames
Many C names shorten naturally: Charlotte to Charlie or Lottie, Caroline to Callie, Christopher to Chris or Kit, Clementine to Clem. Choosing a name with a nickname you already like gives you two options in one.
Check the full name together
Strong consonants make C names pair well with soft surnames, while another hard C can sound clipped (Carter Collins, Cora Campbell). Say the whole name, including the middle name, a few times.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular baby names that start with C?
Charlotte, Chloe and Camila are popular for girls, while Carter, Caleb, Christopher and Cooper are popular for boys.
What are unique baby names that start with C?
Cosima, Calliope, Cordelia, Caspian, Cormac and Cyrus are all rare but easy to pronounce.
What are gender-neutral baby names that start with C?
Charlie, Casey, Cassidy and Cameron are all used for any gender.
What are vintage baby names that start with C?
Clementine, Constance, Colette, Cecilia, Clark and Clement are vintage names worth a second look.
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