Coletta is a Latin relative of the better-known French Colette, which is derived from Nicole and is ultimately a feminization of Nicholas. Only a handful of baby girls are named Coletta or Nicoletta in the US each year, making this one of the rarest of the many forms of the name.

Derived from the Latin Crescentius and Crescens, Crescentia is a bold, strong but elaborate name borne by a 4th century saint and also the heroine of a 12th century German romance. Also spelled Kreszentia, it feels connected to the moon, due to its similarity to the word crescent.

Caitrona is a feminine name of Irish Gaelic origin, representing a variant spelling of Caitríona, the Irish form of Katherine. The name ultimately derives from Greek 'Aikaterine', with debated meanings including 'pure' or possibly connections to the goddess Hecate. Pronounced approximately as 'kah-TREE-oh-na', it carries the rich heritage of Irish naming traditions.

A pretty and almost unique word name to add to the galaxy of astral appellations. More distinctive than the better-known Celeste, it was given fewer than ten baby girls in the US last year. While rare in English-speaking countries, Celestial is a Top 100 name for baby girls in France.

Sounds classy...but isn't.

Concepcion dressed in red satin.

Claretta is a feminine name with Italian roots, functioning as a diminutive form of Clara or Claire. Derived from the Latin 'clarus,' meaning 'bright,' 'clear,' or 'famous,' Claretta carries the essence of light and distinction. This charming variation adds a touch of delicate elegance to the more common Clara. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, Claretta has maintained a steady presence in Italy and among Italian-American families. The name reached its peak recognition in the mid-20th century but remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a melodic Italian name with a clear, bright meaning. Claretta balances uniqueness with classic origins.

Cachet is one of those word names -- Cliché is the most egregious example -- that sounds lovely but seems slightly ridiculous when taken literally.

Best-selling Prep author Curtis Sittenfeld made this one of the many boy names for girls" gaining in popularity and acceptability.

If Caroline is too classic and Callie too cutesy, Cal might work as a cool alternative. Well established and currently in the Top 1000 for boys, it has potential as a gender neutral option too.

Columbia is a rarely used name with many associations. From the eighteenth century it has been used as a female personification of the United States, often appearing as a flag-draped patriotic figure. And as such it's inspired a plethora of place and company names, from the District of Columbia to Columbia University to Columbia Records, and songs like "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean." A character called Columbia appears in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Ties to the unfortunate Mama are now unraveling, leaving Cass or Cassie to stand on its own as a fresher sounding Cathy or Kate. With gender-neutral names abound and the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls, Cass may be on the up and up.

Fading since the 1970s -- but still a lovely name.

Cruz might be a sister for Concepcion and Corazon, although its masculine side was emphasized when the high profile David Beckhams chose it for their son.

Courage debuted on the girls' side of the chart in 2008, almost two decades after it first appeared for boys. It's among the rising class of powerful unisex virtue names, along with Brave, True, and Hero.

Intriguing, when seen as a water name a la River and Ocean; less appropriate if used as a reference to the Creek tribe of Native Americans. Other downsides are its resemblance to creak, as in creaky bones or floorboards, and to unappealing words like creep and reak.

Made famous by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, whose parents fashioned her name from a musical term meaning "with sweetness".

This spelling of Caitlin is closely associated with Game of Thrones matriarch Catelyn Stark, whose name is pronounced CAT-lin on the show.

Cardi B is the stage name of the rapper born Belcalis Almanzar. The name Cardi originated as a short form of Bacardi, a nickname the musician got because her sister is named Hennessy, after the cognac. The B, she says, stands for a range of things, depending on the day, including Belcalis and Bacardi. Cardi is one invented name that's found instant fame and could go much further. For now, it's definitely one of the most talked-about girl names starting with C.