'C' Names

[simoneemily]

I probably won't be TTC for another two to three years, but I'm already obsessing over what to name my future children!

I already know that I want to name a daughter after my mother, Cathy Lynn, who passed when I was just about 15yo. My mother's family follows the tradition of naming your child with the same first initial of a deceased family member, so this means that I'll be looking for names that begin with the letter C. I have a list of names I like, but none of them feel quite right.

Charlotte (Lottie) - This is what I thought I would name my daughter for a long time. I like the full name a lot and LOVE Lottie as a nickname, even though I'm not usually a nickname type of person. However, popularity is a major problem for me, as both my DH and I have relatively uncommon names and really enjoy that. A second cousin named his daughter Charlotte, and this really drove home it's popularity for me.

Cordelia - I'm growing to really like this name. I never read Anne of Green Gables, but I do like the Shakespeare connection. I found a number of Cornelia's in my dad's family tree (one of my great grandmothers was a Nelly), but I don't think I'm brave enough to use it. Cordelia feels like it could still be a tribute? The problem is that I hate the nn Delia and feel like Cora is getting sooo popular.

Catharina - I like this because it's the most related to my mother's name and because it gives a nod to my paternal Dutch heritage. However, if feel very boring to me and I feel I may regret not naming my daughter something that stands out more. Also, pronunciation could be tough. I say Ca-ta-REE-na, but I think most people will say CATh-rina.

Celeste - I really like French names, so I added this to my list. Two problems: it still feels old lady-ish to me and it also sounds a bit similar to my name, Simone. My DH's grandfather sometimes accidentally calls me Celeste. This name also flows the least well with my last name, imo.

Coralie - Similar to Cordelia, but eliminates the Delia nn problem. Again, I like the French feel to it. Aurélie used to be one of my favorite names and this sounds similar. However, it just doesn't feel complete to me somehow. Coraline is out because everyone will assume it's after the Neil Gaiman book. Why did he have to say he made it up!!!

Cecily - New to my list, so I'm not sure how much I like it yet. I know my MIL likes Cecelia and this is my favorite version of that name. It also feels a bit cut off to me though.

Cadence - I wouldn't actually use this because it feels too trendy to me - I like names with long histories as names. I do think it's a beautiful word though.

Sorry for the long post! I would love opinions and suggestions. I generally like longer names, preferably with a French lilt, that are maybe a bit old fashion. Last name is Halliday.

Thanks!

[mischa]

From your list, I like Charlotte, Catharina, Celeste and Cecily. Here are some other "C" options.

Calista
Calla
Calliope
Camilla/Camille
Carina
Carlotta (if you're worried about Charlotte's popularity)
Carmen
Carolina/Caroline
Carys
Casilda
Cassandra
Cassia
Catherine/Katharina/Cateline/Catalina/Katia/Katja (variants of Cathy's)
Cathleen/Kathleen
Catriona
Cecilia/Celia (alternatives to Cecily)
Celandine
Chantal
Charis
Charmian
Chimène
Christabel
Ciara/Keira
Circe
Claire/Clara/Clarissa/Clarinda/Clarice/Clarisse
Claudia/Claudine
Clementine
Cleo/Clio
Clover
Colette/Cosette
Constance
Consuelo
Cora/Coraline (alternatives to Coralie)
Corinna/Corinne
Corinthia
Corliss
Cornelia
Cosima
Crescent/Crescentia
Cybele
Cynthia
Cypress
Cyra
Cyrene

[amyb2]

I like Charlotte, Celeste (I actually think it sounds nice with Halliday and I don't find it old lady-ish), and Cecily best from your list. Some other C names I like are...
Caroline (popular but not nearly as popular as Charlotte, at least in my state)
Corinne
Celine
Clarisse
Carys
Calla
Clara
Colette

Good luck!

[claireelise]

From your list, I love Cordelia and Celeste. I've never met a Cordelia, but I think it's a lovely name, a beautiful meaning, and lovely nicknames (Cory, Cordy, Dell, Lia...). As for Celeste, I know one. She's gorgeous and smart, and gets compliments on her name all the time.

My personal favourite "C" names are:
Clara - my very favourite, but my name IS Claire, so it's too close to my own to use
Cecelia - similar to Cordelia, but eliminates your "Delia" problem. I like nns Celia, Celie, Cece, and Lia.
Calla - just sounds so beautiful to me - maybe because it invokes images of the Calla Lily. But oh, I just noticed your surname....I guess it would be too rhymey!
Cassandra - a great history, and such an elegant and ladylike name. Cass/Cassie name lovely nns, but I like this name as-is.

[flick]

Cordelia is our number one girls name and Cecily has been on my list for ages, I adore it. Catharina is another C name I really like.

[lis09]

How about changing the spelling Catherina to Caterina? Same name, less problematic spelling and still honors your mom.
Claudia
Corina
Cambria
Catlin
Clea
Colbie
Carinthia
s sound-
Cipriana
Cyrene
Cybil
Celina
Cira

[c@29]

Love Charlotte, but I also think it's too popular.
Neutral for Cordelia. Like Catharina but prefer Catherine, love Coralie and Cadence.
Cecily is pretty too but I prefer Caecilia.

How about Celia? It means Heaven. I don't know why, just suddenly thought about it.

Cateri
Caitlin
Chloe
Cara
Celine

[ksheja]

Charlotte (Lottie) - beautful name. If popularity is an issue, I guess it's not for you. I think it will remain popular for some time.

Cordelia -I prefer it to Cornelia.

Catharina - I think this stands out and I don't think it is boring. You can decide whether to correct the pronunciation a lot or change it to Catarina or Caterina.

Celeste - I don't think it sounds too old lady. I like it. I think it's fine with your ln.


Coralie - I like this. I don't think it sounds incomplete at all.

Cecily - I like this, and also Cecelia and Celia.

Cadence - I agree with your assessment of this name.

[rachel27]

What a lovely tradition, and a great way to honor someone. I like your list of names- my favorite is probably Cecily. My VERY favorite C name is Clara. I think it is beautiful, elegant, and charming.

Charlotte (Lottie) - never been a huge fan of Charlotte, and again, its popularity would be a mark against it for me. I do like the idea of Lottie as a nn.

Cordelia - I don't actually think Cora is that popular. I love Cordelia on its own, no nns necessary, though- partially the Shakespeare connection, and partially just because the one Cordelia I knew was really sweet and nice.

Catharina - you could try the Scottish spelling - Catriona (which is Katrina) - but you might get confusion about how to pronounce it. Still, that is less boring than Catharina, which would also probably get mispronounced.

Celeste - for some reason, my dad doesn't like this name, and he told me so when I was quite young, so I've always been biased against it. I think he thought it was too fluffy or something. I actually know a lovely girl named Celeste. I think it is very feminine and soft, but I could never use it as I know my dad would be horrified.

Coralie - really pretty. Again, I love Cora- really elegant and classic.

Cecily - Really classic and gorgeous. I love this name.

Cadence - this is definitely a beautiful word! I think it would make a lovely mn, but I don't like alliterative names, so only if you decided against a C first name.

[stripedsocks]

Charlotte - A bit too popular for me. It's pretty, and classic, but so are names like Caroline and Calantha and they are a lot less used.

Cordelia - If I didn't like Delia, I wouldn't use this.

Catharina - I like it and don't find it boring but many will say it Catherine-a, if you know what I mean. Caterina might stand a better chance of the pronunciation you like.

Celeste - Have you considered my favourite variant, Celestia? It takes it further from Simone without wrecking its light, pretty feel.

Coralie - Gorgeous, but I see what you mean. Is Coral off the table? Coralie itself is really pretty though.

Cecily - I think Cecelia is nicer, honestly.

Cadence - I shudder uncontrollably at Cadence as a girls name, but it just makes me think of cadences, i.e. military matching. That's the Basic Training coming out in me but it doesn't sound pretty at all to my ear. It sounds like sweat and blisters. Candace is pleasant though.