English Names that Start With C

Chesleigh

Caria is both a rare elaboration of Cara and Carrie and and the name of an ancient region of Asia Minor. Given to a handful of girls in the US since the 50s, it is rarely given to more than 10 babies in a single year.
 
As an elaboration, it derives from either Caroline (vias Carrie) meaning "free man", or from the Irish and Italian Cara, meaning "beloved, dear" and "friend". As an ancient place name, it connects to a region of what was once Anatolia and is now modern day Turkey. The name may have come from the king of the region, Car or Kar, who may or may not have been the same Kar of Megara in Greek mythology.

Caria

Cajetan is the English form of the Late Roman Caietanus meaning "from Caieta" — a small town in ancient Italy. The name is notably associated with the 16th century philosopher, theologian, and cardinal, Thomas Cajetan (also known as Gaetanus, Tommaso de Vio or Thomas de Vio), and with Saint Catejan, a 15th century saint, priest, and religious reformer. 
 
Cajetan is an Anglicized form of the name, that appears as Gaetano in Italian (ga-eh-TA-no) and as Kajetan (pronounced ka-YEH-tan) in Poland, In fact, the latter has been in the Polish Top 100 since 2000, and ranked at #996 in the England and Wales charts in 2015 as well.
 
Cajetan, pronounced with the J sound, has never appeared in the charts in the UK or the US.

Cajetan

An English place name associated with a now ruined palace and a set of 12th century laws which defined the relationship between church and state, Clarendon is a surname-style choice with historical grandeur. Also the name of places in Jamaica, the US, and Canada, Clarendon likely means "Clare's hill" or "hill associated with Clare", making this an unexpected way to honor a Clare or Clara in your life. 
 
Some may recognize Clarendon as a heavy, boldface type, which is what drew entrepreneur and designer Perry Haydn Taylor to the name, which he gave to one of his three daughters. The others are Perpetua and Helvetica, named to honor his love for typography.

Clarendon

While Caraway-with-one-R brings to mind nature and herbs, the double R variant is reminiscent of Nick Carraway, the narrator of the classic novel The Great Gatsby. With its trendy surname feel and literary connections, Carraway is a gem waiting to be discovered.

Carraway

While Carraway brings to mind Nick Carraway, the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, there is no reason why this cool surname-name wouldn't work on a girl. Modern and stylish, with a friendly and sporty vibe, Carraway is a trendy-sounding name that feels almost vintage due to its literary connections.

A mellow sounding surname, Carroway could work as a fresh spin on Caroline and a unique way to get the nicknames Coco or Carrie. Reminiscent of the earthy, bitter herb, caraway, and with a touch of literary style thanks to Nick Carraway, narrator The Great Gatsby, Carroway might be one to watch out for.
 
Derived from the Old English gara and weg, the name means "path or road to a triangular piece of land" and was originally found among an Anglo-Saxon tribe who lived near such a place.
 
While the name has yet to feature as a given name in the US stats, it was chosen by reality TV star, Sadie Robertson Huff, who named her daughter Kit Carroway in 2025. Carroway is the star's own middle name, and likely her grandmother's maiden name.

Carroway

Similar in sound to caraway (a bitter, earthy herb), Carraway (Nick, narrator of The Great Gatsby) and Calloway (a quietly rising choice for boys), Carroway is a surname-style choice that could work as a unisex given name. It might appeal to those looking for a creative way of honoring a Wayne and/or a Caroline.
 
Originally found among an Anglo-Saxon tribe who lived near a road or path by a triangular piece of land, it combines the Old English elements gara and weg to describe such a location. 
 
While it has never appeared in the US stats, Carroway was used by reality TV star, Sadie Robertson Huff, for her daughter's middle name in 2025. It is a family name for the star, but her use of it may well help bring the name to people's attention.

With the growing popularity of Celia and Cecilia, this vintage canasta-playing nickname name could be due for a comeback.
 Ceil had a few years of recorded popularity in the first decade of the twentieth century, peaking in 1905. Today, fewer than five baby girls receive the name, meaning it doesn't even make the US extended list.
 One prominent bearer was fashion designer Ceil Chapman (born Cecilia),who was a favorite of actresses from the forties to the sixties--she was one of Marilyn Monroe's favorite designers. She also provided the trousseau for young Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding.
 Caveat: Might be misheard as Seal.

Ceil

Popular for pets, especially of the shaggy, furry nature, Chewie is a Star Wars inspired choice, used in the movie franchise as a nickname for the tall Wookie companion of Han Solo. The full form Chewbacca means "honored friend" in the fictional Wookie language, though Chewie might be less of a mouthful for a pet.
 
Alternatively, Chewie might be considered a wordy pet name, inspired by chew toys and the enjoyment some animals get from chewing on things.

Chewie

Might Carlyle (or Carlisle) be the next Carly, which of course was the update on Carla? In 2015, 14 girls were given the Carlisle spelling (vs. 35 boys) but the Carlyle version did not make the SSA list for girls although it was registered for ten boys. But it's a name we think we'll hear more of for both genders.

Carlyle

A grand English surname that could get you to stylish short form Cove. 

Covington

Clay is an earthy name given to more than 500 baby boys in the US last year, and zero baby girls. But there's no reason it can't work for any gender. Rosie O'Donnell's youngest child, who is nonbinary, changed their name from Dakota to Clay, definitely a cooler choice.

Clay

A surname style choice that might appeal as a way to honor a Nicholas or a Colin, Colley could also work as a rare alternative to Colton, Colby, Callum, and Corey. 
 
The name has a number of possible origins which include: the Irish Kelly meaning "bright-headed" or "war-strife"; the Scottish Macaulay meaning "son of righteousness"; the classic given name, Nicholas meaning "people of victory"; the Old Norse Koli meaning "black, dark, coal"; the bird name, Colly, referring to a blackbird; or possibly as a combination of the Norse word and the suffix ley, giving it the meaning "dark clearing". 
 
Some may find the sound a little too close to that of the dog breed (Border Collie), but spelling variation Coley could lead to the KO-lee pronunciation instead.

Colley

Unusual, serious, no-nonsense occupational surname that could be borrowed from the boys. 

Carden

A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago, while it was selected more recently by influencer Paige R Williams for her daughter in 2025.

Calico

On one hand, Chastin is a surname-style choice that may be interpreted as nature and tree related via the French Chastain. On the other, it's an almost virtue name, used as a diminutive or variation on Chastity, perhaps inspired by the Latin Castinus. The name appears in Coleen Hoover's novel Verity.

Chastin

Either a virtuous option, adapted from Latin and English, or a woodsy, nature related surname, via the French Chastain. 

Similar in sound to Cerise, Cirice has its origins in Old English, ultimately meaning "the Lord's house" or "church". Also the name of a place in France (Saint-Cirice) and a song by the Swedish band Ghost, it would be pronounced as suh-REES in contemporary English, but more like chee-ree-cheh in Old English. 


Cirice

A spiritual English word name, Creed refers to a statement or expression of shared beliefs, usually among a religious community. With its crisp, edgy sound and similarity to Cruz, Reid, Crew, and Jude, Creed has been rising up the US charts for boys, though it has been (very sparingly) used for girls too. 

Creed

English names that start with the letter C for boys and girls, including Chesleigh, Caria, Cajetan, Clarendon, Carraway, Carraway, Carroway, Carroway, Ceil, Chewie, Carlyle, Covington, Clay, Colley, Carden, Calico, Chastin, Chastin, Cirice, and Creed. (Page 11)