C Names for Boys

Cacey is a masculine name that represents a distinctive spelling variation of Casey. With Irish and Gaelic roots, the original Casey derives from 'cathasaigh,' meaning 'vigilant' or 'watchful.' This alternative spelling gives the traditional name a unique twist while maintaining its friendly, approachable sound. Cacey remains relatively uncommon, offering parents a way to honor family members named Casey while giving their child a more distinctive identity. The name has a unisex quality, though this entry refers to its use for boys. Cacey carries the same friendly, unpretentious charm as Casey but stands out in a crowd due to its unique orthography. The name suggests someone who is attentive and observant.

Caleb is an attractive Old Testament name that has been in the US Top 100 for nearly three decades now. Consistently popular but never too popular, Caleb feels more like a classic than a momentary trend.

Calvin is a slightly quirky but cozy name that has a fashion edge thanks to Calvin Klein. It has been steadily on the popularity list since records were kept, never lower than Number 250, peaking in the 1920s, the era of the Calvin (originally John Calvin ) Coolidge presidency.

With its friendly, sensitive, and approachable feel, Cameron is a 90’s favorite that remains popular today. It has a pleasing balance of soft and strong sounds, and holds unisex appeal, thanks to Cameron Diaz. Still, eight times more boys than girls are named Cameron in the US.

This no-nonsense German variation of Charles is strong and sturdy. A top choice throughout the 20th century, Carl is now verging on falling off the charts.

This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.

While the variation Carmine is more familiar for boys, Carmen has also been used as a masculine name; consider the very macho Carmen Basilio — the American boxer famous for defeating the great Sugar Ray Robinson — or composer Carmen Dragon.

Spanish and Italian forms Carmelo and Carmello are also quite popular in the US, with Carmelo ranking in the Top 1000.

Carson is one of the most long-running popular androgynous baby names, with a dash of the Wild West via the legendary Missouri frontiersman Kit Carson. Dating back to when it was the name of Nancy Drew's Dad, Carson is still steadily in the Top 200 baby names.

Carter has ranked in the Top 100 since the the turn of the millennium, but despite its recent popularity, it's not a trendy new name. In fact, Carter is one of those names that just misses ranking in the US Top 1000 for its entire 140+ year history.

A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade.

This ancient name, also spelled Caspar, is finally shedding its ghostly image and moving into the 21st century. Popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where it's sometimes shortened to Cas, Casper could ride the style coattails of cousin Jasper.

One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.

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.

Cayden is one of the many spellings of this popular name, made all the more popular when they're counted together. According to our annual playground analysis, sound-wise at least, Cayden is the 13th most popular name in the US, given to more than 10,600 baby boys.

Cayne is a modern masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variant spelling of Cain, which has Hebrew roots meaning 'acquired' or 'possession,' or it could be derived from Kane, a Celtic name meaning 'warrior.' Some consider it a contemporary adaptation of Cain with the stylistic 'y' added to create distinction. While relatively uncommon in mainstream usage, Cayne has been gradually gaining attention in English-speaking countries since the 1990s. Parents may choose this name for its strong sound and uniqueness, while still maintaining familiar pronunciation. The name projects strength and individuality without being too unusual.

Ced is a masculine name that typically functions as a diminutive of Cedric or sometimes Cedar. Cedric itself has Anglo-Saxon origins created by Sir Walter Scott for a character in his novel 'Ivanhoe,' possibly based on the Saxon name Cerdic. As a standalone name, Ced is quite uncommon, offering simplicity and brevity that contrasts with many contemporary naming trends. Its single-syllable structure gives it a strong, straightforward quality. Some parents might choose it as a modern-feeling shortened form while maintaining connection to the more traditional Cedric. The name's rarity makes it distinctive, while its shortness makes it practical and difficult to shorten further into nicknames. Ced may also appeal to parents seeking names with nature connections if viewed as related to cedar trees.

Cedar is, like Ash, Oak, Pine and Ebony, one of the new tree/wood names that parents are starting to consider; this one is particularly aromatic.

Cedric was invented by Sir Walter Scott for the noble character of the hero's father in Ivanhoe, presumed to be an altered form of the Saxon name Cerdic. The name was later also given to Little Lord Fauntleroy, the long-haired, velvet-suited, and lace-collared boy hero of the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, who became an unwitting symbol of the pampered mama's boy.

This unusual spelling was introduced via the hot young star of Gossip Girl, Chace (born Christopher Chace) Crawford, and experienced some mass interest, though it has fallen down the charts since it peaked in 2009. Think of it as a combination of cool-guy names Chase and Ace.

Despite all the "hanging," "dangling," and "pregnant" chad jokes of the 2000 election, this saint's name and remnant of the Brad-Tad era didn't get a boost in popularity. But Chad still holds some surfer-boy appeal for a number of modern parents.