User-created list
Fantastical Names
Across 31 pages
of 31
Calhoun
Irish
"from the narrow forest"
A beaming, friendly Irish last-name-first-name waiting to be discovered, though anyone into American history might associate it with John C. Calhoun, a 19th century statesman who defended slavery.…
Calista
Greek
"most beautiful"
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…
Calla
Greek
"beautiful"
Calla is a botanical name that is much more distinctive than popular Lily or similar Callie. Rarely heard today, it did appear in the popularity lists in the last decades of the nineteenth century.…
Callister
Variation of Irish surname MacCallister
"son of Alister"
Can be used either with or without the addition of Mac.
Callisto
Greek mythology
"most beautiful"
Best known as one of the moons of Jupiter, Callisto was a nymph coveted by Zeus who was turned into a bear by Hera, becoming the Great Bear (Ursa Major) constellation.
Cambrie
Modern invented name
Cute but slight mix of stylish sounds Cam and Bree, chosen by Rick Schroder for his daughter.
Caoimhe
Irish, Scottish
"beautiful"
Caoimhe, pronounced (more properly) kwee-va or kee-va, is a pretty and distinctive Gaelic name but one that could well lead to no end of confusion outside the Irish community. Even in its native…
Caralyne
Caralyne is a feminine name that appears to be a modern elaboration of Caroline or Carolyn, ultimately derived from Germanic origins meaning 'free man' or 'strong.' This distinctive spelling…
Carnelian
Gemstone name
Carnelian is an ochre-colored semi-precious gemstone, named after a type of cherry.
Carys
Welsh
"love"
Light, pretty and distinctive in appearance, Carys is one of that sweet group of girl names with a loving meaning. A relatively modern name, it didn't come into use in its native Wales until the late…
Cashel
Irish
"castle, stone fort"
Cashel is one of the many appealing Irish names that have not yet emigrated to the US. Cashel was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller for their son. In…
Casimir
English; French, from Polish
"destroyer of peace"
Casimir, a traditional name of Polish kings, could do quite well these days as we see the rise of Caspian, Cassius, Castiel, et. al. Like Leopold and Laszlo, Casimir is strong and worth considering…
Casparo
Italian and Spanish variation of Caspar or Jasper, Persian
"bringer of treasure"
Casparo is a masculine name with Mediterranean roots, serving as an Italian and Spanish variation of Caspar or Gaspar. The original name traces back to the Three Wise Men of biblical tradition, with…
Catullus
Latin, meaning unknown
Bearded, fusty name of great old Roman lyric poet; just what the bold vanguard baby namer might be looking for.
Celes
Celes is a concise, gender-neutral name with multiple potential origins. It most likely derives from the Latin 'caelestis,' meaning 'heavenly' or 'celestial,' giving it an ethereal quality. The name…
Cerys
Welsh
"love"
Common name in Wales that's all but unknown in the U.S. Certainly an attractive choice ripe for export. In the UK it sits at Number 330.
Chadwick
English
"dairy farm"
Chadwick Boseman, the late charismatic star of Marvel's blockbuster Black Panther , brought this name to the spotlight for the first time. Though we long considered it an overwrought way to get to…
Cian
Irish
"ancient"
A handsome Irish name for boys, very popular in that country, but in the US this traditional spelling might cause pronunciation problems. Still, whether Cian or Kian, it's simple and straightforward…
Cicely
English variation of Cecilia
"blind"
This frilly Victorian name is a variant of Cecilia and Cecily, with which it might well be confused. Cicely was a surprise choice for comedienne Sandra Bernhard. Literary Cicelys can be found in Sir…
Clarissa
Elaboration of Clara
"bright, clear"
Clarissa, the daintier version of Claire, has a long literary history of its own, having been featured in the novels of Samuel Richardson, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf—Clarissa was the title…