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Spanish Names that Start With C

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Oct 01 2024
  1. Carmen

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Carmel or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "garden or song"

    • Description:

      Carmen has long been associated with the sensuous, tragic heroine of Bizet's opera, based on a novel by Prosper Merimee; more recently it has called to mind two other bombshells: Carmen Miranda (born Maria) and Carmen Electra (born Tara), as well as the great jazz singer Carmen McRae. In the celebrity baby name world, this classic Spanish name for girls was used by Hilaria and Alec Baldwin for their oldest daughter.
  2. Cruz

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "cross"

    • Description:

      For a single-syllable Latino surname, this new popular kid on the block packs a lot of energy and charm and is one of the most stylish Spanish names for boys in general use today. Victoria and David Beckham named their third son Cruz, following Brooklyn and Romeo, and it was also picked up on by tennis star Lleyton Hewitt for his son. Other parents may prize its Christian associations.
  3. Catalina

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Catherine

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin.
  4. Carmen

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Carmel or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "garden or song"

    • Description:

      While the variation Carmine is more familiar for boys, Carmen has also been used as a masculine name; consider the very macho Carmen Basilio — the American boxer famous for defeating the great Sugar Ray Robinson — or composer Carmen Dragon.

      Spanish and Italian forms Carmelo and Carmello are also quite popular in the US, with Carmelo ranking in the Top 1000.
  5. Carlos

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Charles

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese variation of Charles, which has been used in solid numbers in the US for as long as data has been kept. Carlos has never fallen out of the Top 600, but peaked from the 70s-early 2000s. Today Carlos is still within the Top 200. Notable namesakes include musician Santana, writers Fuentes and Castaneda, and numerous athletes. Carlos Irwin Estevez is the birth name of Charlie Sheen.
  6. Carlo

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Charles, French

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      An energetic and friendly Italian classic, Carlo is popular in its native Italy, but also familiar across Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, France, and Brazil. A variation of the regal French and English classic Charles, it is ultimately derived from the Latin Carolus and the Germanic Karl, meaning "free man".
  7. Cesar

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "head of hair"

    • Description:

      Cesar is the sleeker version of Caesar, as in emperor Julius, used in the US most frequently by Hispanic parents who put the emphasis on the second syllable. With ancient Roman names back in vogue, Cesar might become more popular.
  8. Carmelo

    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "garden"

    • Description:

      Carmelo is a well-used Hispanic name associated with Mt. Carmel, home of the prophet Elijah and the location of the convent for the order of Carmelites. Carmelo is also a saint's name and — in modern times — tied to basketball player Carmelo Anthony.
  9. Chito

    • Origin:

      Choctaw, Native American

    • Meaning:

      "handsome"

    • Description:

      A short, snappy name of Choctaw origin, with a charming meaning, Chito might also be used in Georgian where it means "bird", and as a Filipino and Spanish short form and pet name.
  10. Cayo

    • Origin:

      Latin, from the Roman family name Caius

    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"

    • Description:

      Cayo is a rare and rhythmic Spanish name, all but unknown in the English-speaking world, that would make a lively choice.
  11. Celestina

    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish variation of Celeste

    • Meaning:

      "heavenly"

    • Description:

      We are hearing more of such heavenly names as Celeste and Celia, which opens the door to the range of lovely variations rarely heard before. Celestina is one of them, though given the more accessible options, it may be gilding the lily.
  12. Concepcion

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "conception"

    • Description:

      Name given in honor of the Virgin Mary that might prove difficult for a modern Spanish-American child to pull off.
  13. Chila

    • Description:

      Chila is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. It may be derived from the Hindi word 'chila' meaning 'kite' (the bird), or it could be a diminutive form of names like Priscilla or Cecilia in some Latin cultures. The name might also have roots in Native American languages. Chila has remained relatively uncommon in most Western countries, giving it a distinctive quality. Those named Chila often appreciate its brevity and melodic sound. The name's rarity makes it stand out while still being straightforward to pronounce in many languages. In some communities, Chila may be used as a nickname for longer names, adding to its versatile appeal.

  14. Cristina

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Romanian variation of Christina, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "a Christian"

    • Description:

      Cristina is one case where the streamlined version feels more alluring. Cristina is found more often than Christina in many European countries and cultures, including Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin and South America.
  15. Cortez

    • Origin:

      Spanish surname

    • Meaning:

      "courteous"

    • Description:

      The craze for surname names is now moving beyond the English and Irish to include worldly Spanish names for boys like this historic one currently in the Top 1000.
  16. Canyon

    • Origin:

      Spanish word name

    • Description:

      Canyon is a unique baby name evocative of natural splendor and the old Steve Canyon comic-strip heroism, making it an intriguing new word-name possibility.
  17. Claudio

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "lame; enclosure"

    • Description:

      Claudio, a most appealing Italian name, is featured in not one, but two Shakespearean plays, ,Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing. While "lame" is the most widely acknowledged meaning, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-attractive name.
  18. Cordero

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "lamb"

    • Description:

      Sounds more like a car than a baby name. Some sources related it to the English surname Carter, which would be more stylish these days.
  19. Chara

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "joy"

    • Description:

      Chara is the name of a star in a constellation that represents hunting dogs, recently named as one of the most likely to host extraterrestrial life. Also, Chara is a variation of both Sarah and Charlotte.
  20. Chencho

    • Description:

      Chencho is a masculine name with Spanish and Latin American origins, particularly common in Mexico. It traditionally functions as a familiar nickname for Inocencio, which derives from the Latin 'innocens' meaning 'innocent' or 'harmless.' In some regions, Chencho can also be a diminutive for other names like Cresencio. The name carries a warm, friendly quality and reflects Hispanic cultural traditions of using affectionate shortened forms of longer names. While not widely used outside Spanish-speaking communities, Chencho has a rhythmic, memorable sound. It represents cultural heritage and family connections, often passed through generations as both a formal name and a term of endearment within families and close-knit communities.