If you’re a family looking to add some “C” names to the mix, there are a lot of popular options, as well as some obscure options that will make your child unique. And, there are also plenty of gender-neutral names that start with “C” for you to choose from. Find 36 names that start with “C” here.
Cadence
Origin: Latin Meaning: Rhythm Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kadence, Caedence, Kaydence Peak Popularity: The name Cadence didn’t come into prominence until the 2000s. Its most popular year was 2007 when it hit 199 on the popularity list in the United States.
Caitlin
Origin: Irish Meaning: Pure Alternative Spellings & Variations: Catelyn, Caitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlyn, Kaitlin, Catherine, Katie, Caity Famous Namesakes: There are a number of famous Caitlins, Kates, and Katies, including actress Caitlin Carmichael, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, and Olympie swimmer Katie Ledecky Peak Popularity: The name Caitlin has been popular since the 1970s. Its most popular year was 1988, when it was the 44th most popular name for baby girls born in the United States.
Caitriona
Origin: IrishMeaning: Pure, chasteAlternative Spellings & Variations: Katrina, CatrinaFamous Namesakes: Outlander star Caitriona BalfePeak Popularity: Caitriona hasn’t yet cracked the most popular names list in the United States but is more popular in Ireland, where it originated.
Caleb
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Whole-hearted Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kaleb, Caeleb Famous Namesakes: Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin and Olympic swimmer Caeleb Dressel. Caleb is also a Biblical name. Peak Popularity: Caleb has been in the top 100 names for boys since the ’90s. Its most popular year was 2009 when it peaked at 39th place.
Callie
Origin: Greek Meaning: Beautiful Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cali, Cally, Kali, Calliope Famous Namesakes: Callie is often a nickname, but there are some celebrities who go by Callie, including screenwriter Callie Khouri and actress Callie Thorne. Peak Popularity: The name Callie has grown in popularity in recent years. The most popular year for the name was 2020 when it hit No. 165 on the Social Security Administration list of baby names.
Calum
Origin: Scottish Meaning: Dove Alternative Spellings & Variations: Callum, Kalum Famous Namesakes: Musicians Calum Hood and Calum Scott Peak Popularity: Calum didn’t enter the Social Security Administration’s top 1,000 baby names until 2019, but it stuck around for 2020.
Calvin
Origin: LatinMeaning: BaldAlternative Spellings & Variations: CalFamous Namesakes: DJ Calvin Harris, rapper Snoop Dogg (whose real name is Calvin Broadus), football player Calvin JohnsonPeak Popularity: Calvin has always been a popular name for baby boys in the United States. It’s steadily grown in popularity, though its most popular year was 1924.
Cameron
Origin: ScottishMeaning: Bent noseAlternative Spellings & Variations: Cam, Kameron, KamFamous Namesakes: There are a number of famous people named Cameron, thanks to this being a gender-neutral name. Actress Cameron Diaz, rapper Wiz Khalifa (whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz), and filmmaker Cameron Crowe are some of the most well-known.Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Cameron as a boy’s name was 2000 when it hit No. 31 on the list. It was 1999 that it was the most popular for girls, though it only hit No. 176 on the list.
Camilla
Origin: Italian Meaning: Perfect Alternative Spellings & Variations: Camila, Cam, Cami, Cammy, Camille Famous Namesakes: Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, singer Camila Cabello Peak Popularity: The name Camilla has grown in popularity since 2000, with its most popular year being 2020.
Candace
Origin: African Meaning: Queen mother Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kandace, Candice, Kandice, Kandiss Famous Namesakes: Full House star Candace Cameron Bure, Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell, and basketball star Candace Parker Peak Popularity: Candace was most popular in 1984 when it hit No. 101 on the list of popular baby names.
Carlos
Origin: Spanish Meaning: Free man Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carl, Cal Famous Namesakes: Singer Carlos Santana and baseball player Carlos Beltran are two of the most well-known people named Carlos. Peak Popularity: Carlos has long been a popular name in the United States, though its biggest year was 2001.
Caroline
Origin: French Meaning: Free Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carolina, Carol, Caro, Coraline Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, fashion designer Carolina Herrera Peak Popularity: Caroline has been in the top 100 baby names since 1994, but its most popular year was 2018.
Carter
Origin: English Meaning: Driver of a cart Alternative Spellings & Variations: Karter Famous Namesakes: Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford and former President Jimmy Carter are two famous Carters. Peak Popularity: Carter has been rising in popularity for the past several years. Its most popular year for baby boys was 2018.
Casey
Origin: IrishMeaning: Vigilant in WarAlternative Spellings & Variations: Casie, Kacie, Kaci, KaseyFamous Namesakes: Famed TV host Casey Kasem, actor Casey Affleck, and actress Casey WilsonPeak Popularity: The most popular year for Casey as a boy’s name was 1987, and its most popular year for girls was 1986.
Casper
Origin: GermanMeaning: TreasurerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kasper, Caspar, CasFamous Namesakes: Perhaps the most famous Casper is the fictional Casper the friendly ghost.Peak Popularity: Casper is an old-fashioned name that fell off the popularity list in the 1930s. However, in the early 1900s, it was quite popular, with its biggest year being 1907.
Cassandra
Origin: GreekMeaning: To excel over menAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kassandra, Cassie, Kassy, Cass, Sandra, Sandy, KassieFamous Namesakes: Golden Globe-winning actress and singer Andra Day’s full name is Cassandra Monique BatiePeak Popularity: The name Cassandra has been popular since the 1980s, with its most popular year being 1990. In that year, it was No. 49 on the top baby names list.
Charles
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Free manAlternative Spellings & Variations: CharlieFamous Namesakes: Prince Charles, writer Charles Dickens, actor Charlie ChaplinPeak Popularity: In the early 1900s, Charles was consistently in the top 10 baby names in the United States.
Charlotte
Origin: FrenchMeaning: FreeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Charlie, LottieFamous Namesakes: Singers Charlotte Church and Charli XCX, actress Charlotte Rampling, and Princess Charlotte of CambridgePeak Popularity: Charlotte has been pretty popular for years, though it’s seen an increase in popularity recently.
Chase
Origin: EnglishMeaning: HunterFamous Namesakes: Outer Banks star Chase Stokes, singer Lil Huddy (whose real name is Chase Hudson), and baseball player Chase UtleyPeak Popularity: Chase’s most popular year for baby boys was 2009 when it was No. 61 on the Social Security Administration baby names list.
Chelsea
Origin: EnglishMeaning: LimestoneAlternative Spellings & Variations: Chelsey, Kelsey, KelsieFamous Namesakes: Chelsea Clinton and comedians Chelsea Handler and Chelsea PerettiPeak Popularity: Chelsea was popular in the 1980s and 1990s with 1992 being its peak.
Chloe
Origin: Greek Meaning: Verdant and blooming Alternative Spellings & Variations: Khloe, Cleo Famous Namesakes: Khloe Kardashian, actress Chloe Bennett Peak Popularity: Since the 1990s, the name Chloe has been quite popular for baby girls. Its peak year was 2010.
Christian
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Follower of ChristAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kristian, Kris, ChrisFamous Namesakes: Author Hans Christian Andersen, actor Christian Bale, fashion designer Christian DiorPeak Popularity: It was in 2006 that Christian hit its peak on the Social Security Administration’s list of baby names for boys.
Christina
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Follower of ChristAlternative Spellings & Variations: Cristina, KristinaFamous Namesakes: Grammy-winning singer Christina Aguilera and actress Christina Ricci are two of the most well-known Christinas.Peak Popularity: Christina found its peak popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with 1985 being the biggest year.
Christopher
Origin: Greek Meaning: Christ-bearer Alternative Spellings & Variations: Chris, Kristopher, Kris, Kristofer Famous Namesakes: There are a ton of famous people named Chris or Christopher, including comedian Chris Rock, all of the Hollywood Chrises (Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine), and Oscar-nominated director Christopher Nolan. Peak Popularity: From the 1960s through the 1990s, Christopher remained one of the most popular names for baby boys in the U.S. It sat at No. 2 on the Social Security Administration list for several years.
Claire
Origin: FrenchMeaning: Illustrious or enlightenedAlternative Spellings & Variations: Clare, ClaraFamous Namesakes: Actresses Claire Danes and Claire ForlaniPeak Popularity: Claire has been in the top 100 names since 1998 but has always been fairly popular.
Clara
Origin: LatinMeaning: IllustriousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Klara, ClaireFamous Namesakes: The main character from The Nutcracker is named Clara.Peak Popularity: Clara is an old-fashioned name that was popular in the early 1900s. It fell out of style a few decades ago, but with the resurgence of old names, it grew in popularity again starting in the 1980s.
Claudia
Origin: LatinMeaning: LameAlternative Spellings & Variations: KlaudiaFamous Namesakes: Supermodel Claudia SchifferPeak Popularity: Claudia was quite popular in the 1950s but has fallen off a bit since then.
Cole
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Victory of the peopleAlternative Spellings & Variations: KoleFamous Namesakes: Actors Cole Sprouse and Cole Hauser and composer Cole PorterPeak Popularity: Cole saw its peak popularity in the early 2000s.
Collin
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Victory of the peopleAlternative Spellings & Variations: Colin, Kollin, KolinFamous Namesakes: Actors Colin Firth and Colin Farrell, as well as baseball players Collin Cowgill and Collin BallesterPeak Popularity: Collin saw its peak in the 1990s, though Colin has always been a more popular spelling of the name.
Connor
Origin: IrishMeaning: Descendent of the houndAlternative Spellings & Variations: Conor, ConnerFamous Namesakes: Gossip Girl actor Connor Paolo, YouTube star Connor FrantaPeak Popularity: The name Connor has consistently been popular since the turn of the millennium. It’s stayed in the top 100 names for boys every year, peaking at 38 in 2004.
Constance
Origin: EnglishMeaning: ConstantFamous Namesakes: Actress Constance WuPeak Popularity: Constance has decreased in popularity over the years, falling off the charts after 1999, but it saw its peak in 1949.
Cooper
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Barrel makerAlternative Spellings & Variations: KooperFamous Namesakes: Actor Cooper Barnes and football player Cooper HelfetPeak Popularity: Cooper has been in the top 100 names for boys since 2007.
Courtney
Origin: EnglishMeaning: French dynastyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kourtney, Courtni, Courtnie, CourteneyFamous Namesakes: There are plenty of famous people named Courtney, both men and women—including actress Courteney Cox, actor Courtney B. Vance, and musician Courtney Love.Peak Popularity: Courtney was really popular in the 1970s and 1980s but has since decreased in popularity.
Cree
Origin: Native AmericanMeaning: Tribe nameFamous Namesakes: The most notable usage of the name Cree is for the Native American tribe.Peak Popularity: Cree has not cracked the top 1,000 names for babies in the U.S. but is a beautiful option for your own baby.
Curtis
Origin: LatinMeaning: CourteousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Curt, KurtisFamous Namesakes: Actor and rapper 50 Cent’s real name is Curtis Jackson.Peak Popularity: Curtis was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s before peaking in 1963.
Cy
Origin: GreekMeaning: LordlyAlternative Spellings & Variations: CyrilFamous Namesakes: Famed baseball player Cy Young.Peak Popularity: The longer form of Cy—Cyril—is a popular old-fashioned name and saw its peak in the U.S. in 1902.
