Girl Names Starting With C

Colette

French, short form of Nicole, feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek

"people of victory"

Like the French author with whom the name is most closely associated, Colette is a chic and charming name, sharp, stylish, and feminine but without the frills of Nicolette. After disappearing from…

Cassandra

Greek

"shining or excelling man"

The name of the tragic mythological Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but was condemned never to be believed, Cassandra has been used for striking characters in movies and…

Coraline

Variation of Coralie, French from Latin

"coral"

Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is…

Christina

Latin, Greek

"a Christian"

Christina, a pretty and feminine, crystal clear classic, may be trending downward, but it's never out of style and its extra syllable does keep it fresher feeling than Christine. Christina's short…

Colbie

Variation of Colby, English

"from a coal town"

Strongly feminine variation of Colby with two prime associations: singer Colbie Caillat and actress Colbie Smulders (born Jacoba).

Cassie

Diminutive of Cassandra, Greek

"prophetess"

Though not much in use, still retains a cozy Little House on the Prairie-type pioneer feel.

Carina

Italian

"dear little one"

Carina is a pretty delicately feminine name whose fall from popularity is not helped by its similarity to hurricane name Katrina or slang victim Karen.

Cindy

English diminutive of Cynthia, Greek, or Lucinda, Spanish and Portuguese

"moon goddess, woman from Kynthos; "

Cindy as a name in its own right made it into the Top 20 in 1957 and remained a Top 200 girls' name until the end of the 20th century. Although it's fallen precipitously since then and left the Top…

Cambrie

Modern invented name

Cute but slight mix of stylish sounds Cam and Bree, chosen by Rick Schroder for his daughter.

Colleen

Irish

"girl"

Midcentury Irish-American favorite, never used in Ireland itself, being the generic word for "girl"; rarely given today.

Carlotta

Italian variation of Charlotte, French diminutive of Charles

"free man"

Carlotta has a large measure of finger-snapping charm and substance — despite being a not too pleasant character in The Little Mermaid . Carlotta is also the diva/prima donna in The Phantom of the…

Crimson

Color name

"rich deep red"

Crimson could be a possible competitor for Scarlett's success, though it's lacking that Johansson charm. Crimson tends to be disproportionately popular in Alabama — the University of Alabama's…

Caelyn

Caelyn is a feminine name that represents a modern variation of traditional Celtic and Welsh names. It relates to names like Caitlin, Kaelyn, and Kaylin, with possible meanings including 'pure' or…

Clea

Latinate variation of Cleo, Greek

"glory"

An attractive and unusual name that may be a variation of Cleo, Clea was possibly invented by Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet . Actress Clea DuVall is one noted bearer of…

Chelsey

Variation of Chelsea, English

"landing place for chalk or limestone"

Chelsea was last fashionable around the time First Daughter Chelsea Clinton was born, ranking in the Top 25 in the early 1990s. Chelsey never hit the heights of the original. About 40 baby girls were…

Cydney

Variation of Sydney, English from French

"Saint Denis"

Unnecessary complication.

Celinda

English combination of Celia + Linda, Latin and Spanish

"heavenly + beautiful"

Feels like a hybrid of Celia and Belinda, but Celinda is also a Spanish botanical name for the sweet mock orange.

Cerelia

Latin

"relating to springtime"

Cerelia is a melodic and unusual choice, perfect for a child born in April or May. Another version is Cerella.

Cerena

Cerena is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Serena, which comes from the Latin word 'serenus' meaning 'clear, tranquil, or serene.' Alternatively, it could be…

Cantara

Arabic

"little bridge"

An interesting and unusual choice, with a choral feel.