Greek Names that Start With C

  1. Christina
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "a Christian"
    • Description:

      Christina, a pretty and feminine, crystal clear classic, may be trending downward, but it's never out of style. Christina's short forms Chris, Christie, and Tina all seem dated—making the royal Christina best used in its full glory.
  2. Castor
    • Origin:

      Greek; Latin
    • Meaning:

      "beaver; pious one"
    • Description:

      Forget the oil. It's one of the twins that make up the constellation Gemini, and a mythological name on the cutting-edge of fashion; used by Metallica's James Hetfield.
  3. Calista
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "most beautiful"
    • Description:

      Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she introduced a whole sensibility. Pretty and delicate, Calista is definitely worthy of consideration, especially for parents with Greek roots.
  4. Calixto
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"
    • Description:

      Calixto is known in Spain as the name of three popes, one of whom was the martyr, Callixtus I, regarded as a saint. Calixto has a lot of energy and futuristic spirit, thanks in part to the attention-grabbing 'x.' He is the main character in the Spanish classic, Fernando de Rojas's Tragicomedy of Calixto and Melibea.
  5. Callista
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "most beautiful"
    • Description:

      Calista Flockhart spotlighted this lovely Greek name that has a long future in the English-speaking world. Kallista is another spelling; Calixta and Calixto are related.
  6. Cyprian
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "man of Cyprus"
    • Description:

      With a long and noble history -- Cyprian was one of the great Christian Latin writers -- this could make a highly unusual but meaningful choice.
  7. Cassiopeia
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "cassia juice"
    • Description:

      Cassiopeia, the name of a mythological mother who became a stellar constellation, is challenging but intriguing, and has all those softening Cass nicknames available. And with all names Cass-related trending, Cassiopeia may be an unusual route to a stylish name.
  8. Clio
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "glory"
    • Description:

      Clio is the name of the ancient Greek mythological muse of history and heroic poetry, one that is rich with modern charm and would make an intriguing choice, especially thanks to its dynamic o-ending.
  9. Cybele
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "the mother of all gods"
    • Description:

      The Anatolian mother goddess Cybele had a place in Greek, Roman, Trojan, and Anatolian mythology. Today, she has special meaning as a symbol of gender nonconformity.
  10. Charis
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Reference to the mythological Three Graces of womanly charm, this one representing charity. Pronounced in Greek as starting with a back-of-the-throat H sound, most English-speakers would translate that to something closer to KAR-is. It's also the name of a girl who lived in Atlantis in the novel Taliesin, and appears in the Margaret Atwood novel The Robber Bride.
  11. Calixta
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "most beautiful"
    • Description:

      Calista Flockhart may have made her variation of this beautiful Greek name familiar to modern Americans, but the even-edgier x version was the name of an earlier feminist heroine: a character in Kate Chopin's The Storm.
  12. Cymbeline
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "sun lord or sun hound"
    • Description:

      The title of a Shakespeare play based on legends featuring the early Celtic King Cunobelinus, whose name derives from the Gaulish sun god Belenus.
  13. Calandra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lark"
    • Description:

      Calista Flockhart opened the door to a whole flock of graceful and unusual Greek names like this, including Calantha, Calla, Carissa, and Cassia. Calandra itself is the name of a species of lark, and has the versatile nickname options of Callie, Candy, Andra, Andie and Birdie.
  14. Cytherea
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "from the island of Cythera"
    • Description:

      Cytherea, a place-name that is the home of Aphrodite, seems stuck in ancient Greece.
  15. Cleon
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "glorious, renowned"
    • Description:

      Rare and distinctive name with intimations of antiquity, also a Shakespearean character.
  16. Cleopatra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "glory of the father"
    • Description:

      A royal name in ancient Egypt that's never quite made it to the modern world, though nickname Cleo is widely used. Other now-extinct Cleopatra diminutives, including Cleora and Cleola, achieved some popularity in the early 20th century when there was a crazy for all things Egypt-related as the ancient tombs were opened and artifacts displayed. In the US, Cleopatra became a popular silent film in 1917 starring Theda Bara.
  17. Cate
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Catherine
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      Time was, even C-starting Catherines who called themselves Kate spelled it with a K, but Cate Blanchett changed all. Cate is now as acceptable as (but not as well used as) Kate. Cait might be short for Caitlin.
  18. Carissa
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Trending down, along with others of both the Car and the issa groups.
  19. Cyrano
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "from Cyrene"
    • Description:

      Don't let the long-nose connotations put you off. Cyrano feels so current with names like Theo, Leo, Cypriano and Cyrus finding fans again and even the fictional character has so many redeeming features (poet, musicians, self-made man).
  20. Cadmus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "one who excels"
    • Description:

      Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents — especially since Cadmus Peverell is a human Harry Potter character, one of the three original owners of the Deathly Hallows.

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