CLOELIA f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of CLOELIUS. In Roman legend Cloelia was a maiden who was given to an Etruscan invader as a hostage. She managed to escape by swimming across the Tiber, at the same time helping some of the other captives to safety.
CLOELIUS m Ancient Roman
Roman family name of unknown meaning.
CLOPAS m Biblical
Meaning unknown, probably of Aramaic origin. In the New Testament Clopas is mentioned briefly as the husband of one of the women who witnessed the crucifixion, sometimes identified with Alphaeus.
CLOTHILDE f French
Variant of CLOTILDE.
CLOTHILDIS f Ancient Germanic (Latinized)
Old Germanic form of CLOTILDE.
CLOTHO f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLOTHO.
CLOTILDA f English
English form of CLOTILDE.
CLOTILDE f French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
French form of the Germanic name Chlotichilda, which was composed of the elements hlud “fame” and hild “battle”. Saint Clotilde was the wife of the Frankish king Clovis, whom she converted to Christianity.
CHIDUBEM m Western African, Igbo
Means “guided by God” in Igbo.
CHIE f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand” combined with 枝 (e) meaning “branch”, 恵 (e) meaning “favour, benefit” or 絵 (e) meaning “picture, painting”. Other kanji combinations are also possible.
CHIEMEKA m Western African, Igbo
Means “God has performed great deeds” in Igbo.
CHIFUNDO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “mercy” in Chewa.
CHIFUNIRO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “will, wish” in Chewa.
CHIHIRO f & m Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand” and 尋 (hiro) meaning “search, seek”, as well as other kanji combinations.
CHIJINDUM m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God holds my life” in Igbo.
CHIKA (1) f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is the greatest” in Igbo.
CHIKA (2) f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand”, 智 (chi) meaning “wisdom, intellect” or 散 (chi) meaning “scatter” combined with 佳 (ka) meaning “good, beautiful” or 花 (ka) meaning “flower”. Other kanji combinations are also possible.
CHIKAKO f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand”, 香 (ka) meaning “fragrance” and 子 (ko) meaning “child”. Other kanji combinations can be possible.
CHIKE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God’s power” in Igbo.
CHIKELU m & f Western African, Igbo
Variant of CHIKERE.
CHIKERE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God created” in Igbo.
CHIKONDI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “love” in Chewa.
CHIKUMBUTSO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “memory” in Chewa.
CHILE m English (Rare)
Variant of KYLE.
CHIMA m Western African, Igbo
Means “God knows” in Igbo.
CHIMO m Catalan (Rare)
Valencian diminutive of JOAQUIM.
CHIMWALA m & f Eastern African, Yao
Means “stone” in Yao.
CHIMWEMWE m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “joy, pleasure” in Chewa.
CHIN m & f Chinese
Variant of JIN (using Wade-Giles transcription).
CHINA f English (Modern)
From the name of the Asian country, ultimately derived from Qin, the name of a dynasty that ruled there in the 3rd century BC.
CHINASA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “God answers” in Igbo.
CHINATSU f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand” and 夏 (natsu) meaning “summer”, as well as other kanji combinations.
CHINEDU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God leads” in Igbo.
CHINGIS m Mongolian
Mongolian form of GENGHIS.
CHINONSO m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is nearby” in Igbo.
CHINWE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns” in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chinwe.
CHINWEIKE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns power” in Igbo.
CHINWENDU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns life” in Igbo.
CHINWEUBA m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns wealth” in Igbo.
CHINYELU f Western African, Igbo
Variant of CHINYERE.
CHINYERE f Western African, Igbo
Means “God gave” in Igbo.
CHIOMA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “good God” in Igbo.
CHIP m English
Diminutive of CHARLES or CHRISTOPHER. It can also be from a nickname given in reference to the phrase a chip off the old block, used of a son who is similar to his father.
CHIPO f Southern African, Shona
Means “gift” in Shona.
CHIRANJEEVI m Indian, Hindi, Telugu
Alternate transcription of Hindi चिरंजीवी or Telugu చిరంజీవి (see CHIRANJIVI).
CHIRANJIVI m Indian, Hindi, Telugu
Means “long-lived, infinite” in Sanskrit.
CHISOMO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “grace” in Chewa.
CHITA f Spanish
Short form of CONCHITA.
CHIUMBO m Eastern African, Mwera
Means “small” in Mwera.
CHIYEMBEKEZO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “hope” in Chewa.
CHIYO f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand” combined with 代 (yo) meaning “generation” or 世 (yo) meaning “world”. Other kanji combinations are possible.
CHIYOKO f Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning “thousand” and 代 (yo) meaning “generation” and 子 (ko) meaning “child”. Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.
CHIZOBA m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God protect us” in Igbo.
CHIZQIYAHU m Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of HEZEKIAH.
CHLODOCHAR m Ancient Germanic
Old Germanic form of LOTHAR.
CHLODOVECH m Ancient Germanic
Old Germanic form of LUDWIG.
CHLODULF m Ancient Germanic
Old Germanic form of LUDOLF.
CHLOE f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means “green shoot” in Greek, referring to new plant growth in the spring. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament. As an English name, Chloe has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.
CHLOÉ f French
French form of CHLOE.
CHLOË f Dutch, English
Dutch form and English variant of CHLOE.
CHLORIS f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek χλωρός (chloros) meaning “pale green”. Chloris, in Greek mythology, was a minor goddess of vegetation.
CHLOTHAR m Ancient Germanic
Germanic form of LOTHAR.
CHLOTICHILDA f Ancient Germanic
Old Germanic form of CLOTILDE.
CHO f Japanese (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 蝶 (see CHŌ).
CHŌ f Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 蝶 (chō) meaning “butterfly”.
CHOBIN m History
From Persian چوبین (Chubin) meaning “spear-like”. Bahram Chobin was a 6th-century Sasanian general and, for a short period, the king. He received this nickname because he was tall and thin. He appears in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.
CHŌKO f Japanese
From Japanese 蝶 (chō) meaning “butterfly” and 子 (ko) meaning “child”. Other kanji combinations can be possible.
CHOLPON f Kyrgyz
Means “Venus (the planet)” in Kyrgyz.
CHOU f Japanese (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 蝶 (see CHŌ).
CLEMENTINA f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of CLEMENT.
CLÉMENTINE f French
French feminine form of CLEMENT. This is also the name of a variety of orange (fruit).
CLEMENTINE f English
English form of CLÉMENTINE.
CLEMENTIUS m Late Roman
Derivative of Clemens (see CLEMENT).
CLÉO f French
Short form of CLÉOPÂTRE.
CLEO f & m English
Short form of CLEOPATRA, CLEON or CLEOPAS.
CLEON m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Κλέων (Kleon), a Greek name derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning “glory”.
CLEOPAS m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Shortened form of the Greek name Kleopatros (see CLEOPATRA). In the New Testament Cleopas is a disciple who sees Jesus after his resurrection.
CLEOPATRA f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopatra) meaning “glory of the father”, derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning “glory” combined with πατήρ (pater) meaning “father” (genitive πατρός). This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp. Shakespeare’s tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (1606) tells the story of her life.
CHOUKO f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 蝶子 (see CHŌKO).
CHRESTOS m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from Greek χρηστός (chrestos) meaning “useful, good”.
CHRIS m & f English, Dutch, German, Danish
Short form of CHRISTOPHER, CHRISTIAN, CHRISTINE, and other names that begin with Chris.
CHRISSIE f English
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRISSY f English
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRIST m Theology
Modern English form of CHRISTOS (1).
CHRISTA f German, Danish, English
Short form of CHRISTINA.
CHRISTABEL f English (Rare)
Combination of CHRISTINA and the name suffix bel. This name occurs in medieval literature, and was later used in 1800 by Samuel Coleridge in his poem Christabel.
CHRISTABELLA f English (Rare)
Latinate form of CHRISTABEL.
CHRISTABELLE f English (Rare)
Variant of CHRISTABEL.
CHRISTAKIS m Greek
Greek diminutive of CHRISTOS (2).
CHRISTAL f English
Variant of CRYSTAL.
CHRISTEL f German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRISTELLE f French
French diminutive of CHRISTINE.
CHRISTEN (1) m Danish, Norwegian
Variant of KRISTEN (1).
CHRISTEN (2) f English
Variant of KRISTIN.
CHRISTER m Swedish, Danish
Swedish and Danish diminutive of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTI f English
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRISTIAAN m Dutch
Dutch form of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIAN m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the medieval Latin name Christianus meaning “a Christian” (see CHRISTOS (1)). In England it has been in use since the Middle Ages, during which time it was used by both males and females, but it did not become common until the 17th century. In Denmark the name has been borne by ten kings since the 15th century. A famous bearer was Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), the Danish author of such fairy tales as The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
CHRISTIANA f English, Late Roman
Latin feminine form of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIANE f German, French
German and French feminine form of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIANNE f English (Rare)
Feminine form of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIANUS m Late Roman
Latin form of CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIE (1) f English
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRISTIE (2) m Scottish, Irish
Scottish and Irish diminutive of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTIN f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
Variant of KRISTIN.
CHRISTINA f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Greek
From Christiana, the Latin feminine form of CHRISTIAN. This was the name of an early, possibly legendary, saint who was tormented by her pagan father. It was also borne by a 17th-century Swedish queen and patron the arts who gave up her crown in order to become a Roman Catholic.
CHRISTINE f French, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
French form of CHRISTINA, as well as a variant in other languages.
CHRISTMAS m & f English (Rare)
From the name of the holiday, which means “Christ festival”.
CHRISTOBEL f English (Archaic)
Variant of CHRISTABEL.
CHRISTOFFEL m Dutch (Archaic)
Dutch form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOFFER m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian variant of KRISTOFFER.
CHRISTOFOROS m Greek
Modern Greek form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOPH m German
German form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOPHE m French
French form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOPHER m English
From the Late Greek name Χριστόφορος (Christophoros) meaning “bearing CHRIST“, derived from Χριστός (Christos) combined with φέρω (phero) meaning “to bear, to carry”. Early Christians used it as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts. In the Middle Ages, literal interpretations of the name’s etymology led to legends about a Saint Christopher who carried the young Jesus across a river. He has come to be regarded as the patron saint of travellers…. [more]
CHRISTOPHOROS m Late Greek
Greek form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOPHORUS m Late Roman
Latin form of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRISTOS (1) m Theology, Greek
From Greek Χριστός (Christos) meaning “anointed”, derived from χρίω (chrio) meaning “to anoint”. This was a name applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking Christians. It is a translation of the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach), commonly spelled in English messiah, which also means “anointed”…. [more]
CHRISTOS (2) m Greek
Modern Greek form of CHRESTOS. This spelling has been conflated with Χρίστος (see CHRISTOS (1)), which is pronounced the same in Modern Greek.
CHRISTY (1) f English
Diminutive of CHRISTINE or CHRISTINA.
CHRISTY (2) m Scottish, Irish
Scottish and Irish diminutive of CHRISTOPHER.
CHRIZANNE f Southern African, Afrikaans
Combination of CHRISTINE and ANNE (1) used in South Africa.
CHRYSA f Greek
Feminine form of CHRYSANTHOS.
CHRYSANTA f English (Rare)
Shortened form of the word chrysanthemum, the name of a flowering plant, which means “golden flower” in Greek.
CHRYSANTHE f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of CHRYSANTHOS.
CHRYSANTHI f Greek
Modern Greek feminine form of CHRYSANTHOS.
CHRYSANTHOS m Greek, Ancient Greek
Means “golden flower” from Greek χρύσεος (chryseos) meaning “golden” combined with ἄνθος (anthos) meaning “flower”. This name was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd-century Egyptian saint.
CHRYSEIS f Greek Mythology
Patronymic derived from CHRYSES. In Greek legend she was the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo. After she was taken prisoner by the Greeks besieging Troy, Apollo sent a plague into their camp, forcing the Greeks to release her.
CHRYSES m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek χρύσεος (chryseos) meaning “golden”. In Greek mythology Chryses was the father of Chryseis, a woman captured by Agamemnon during the Trojan War.
CHRYSOSTOM m History (Ecclesiastical)
English form of CHRYSOSTOMOS.
CHRYSOSTOMOS m Greek
Means “golden mouth”, from Greek χρυσός (chrysos) meaning “gold” and στόμα (stoma) meaning “mouth”. This was an epithet applied to eloquent orators, notably Saint John Chrysostom, a 4th-century archbishop of Constantinople.
CHRYSSA f Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Χρύσα (see CHRYSA).
CHRYSTAL f English
Variant of CRYSTAL.
CHRYSTELLE f French
Variant of CHRISTELLE.
CHUCHO m Spanish
Spanish diminutive of JESÚS.
CHUCK m English
Diminutive of CHARLES. It originated in America in the early 20th century. Two famous bearers of this name were pilot Chuck Yeager (1923-), the first man to travel faster than the speed of sound, and the musician Chuck Berry (1926-2017), one of the pioneers of rock music.
CHUCKIE m English
Diminutive of CHUCK.
CHUCKY m English
Diminutive of CHUCK.
CHUKS m Western African, Igbo
Diminutive of Igbo names beginning with the element Chukwu meaning “God”.
CHUKWU m Mythology
Means “God is great”, derived from Igbo chi “god, spiritual being” and ukwu “great”. In Igbo mythology Chukwu is the supreme god who created the universe. Christian Igbo people use this name for the Christian god.
CHUKWUDI m Western African, Igbo
Means “God exists” in Igbo, a variant of CHIDI using Chukwu as the first element, which is the extended form of Chi meaning “God”.
CHUKWUEMEKA m Western African, Igbo
Means “God has performed great deeds” in Igbo.
CHUKWUMA m Western African, Igbo
Means “God knows” in Igbo, a variant of CHIMA using Chukwu as the first element, which is the extended form of Chi meaning “God”.
CHULDAH f Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of HULDAH.
CHUN f & m Chinese
From Chinese 春 (chūn) meaning “spring (the season)” or other characters with a similar pronunciation.
CHUS m & f Spanish
Diminutive of JESÚS or JESUSA.
CHUY m Spanish
Diminutive of JESÚS.
CHYNA f English (Modern)
Variant of CHINA.
CIAN m Irish, Irish Mythology
Means “ancient” in Irish. This was the name of the mythical ancestor of the Cianachta in Irish legend. Cian was also the name of a son-in-law of Brian Boru.
CIANÁN m Irish
Diminutive of CIAN. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish saint.
CIANNAIT f Irish
Feminine form of CIAN.
CIAR m Irish
Derived from Irish ciar meaning “black”.
CIARA (1) f Irish
Feminine form of CIAR. Saint Ciara was an Irish nun who established a monastery at Kilkeary in the 7th century.
CIARA (2) f English (Modern)
Variant of SIERRA. Use of the name has perhaps been influenced by the brand of perfume called Ciara, which was introduced by Revlon in 1973.
CIARÁN m Irish
Diminutive of CIAR. This was the name of two Irish saints: Saint Ciarán the Elder, the patron of the Kingdom of Munster, and Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, the founder of a monastery in the 6th century.
CIARDHA m Irish
Derived from Irish ciar meaning “black”.
CIBOR m Polish (Rare)
Variant of CZCIBOR.
CIBRÁN m Galician
Galician form of Cyprianus (see CYPRIAN).
CICELY f English
Medieval variant of CECILY.
CICERO m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin cicer meaning “chickpea”. Marcus Tullius Cicero (now known simply as Cicero) was a statesman, orator and author of the 1st century BC. He was a political enemy of Mark Antony, who eventually had him executed.
CIEL f & m Various
Means “sky” in French. It is not used as a given name in France itself.
ĈIELA f Esperanto
Means “heavenly, from the sky” in Esperanto, from ĉielo “sky”, ultimately derived from Latin caelum.
CIERA f English (Modern)
Variant of SIERRA.
CIERRA f English (Modern)
Variant of SIERRA.
ÇİĞDEM f Turkish
Means “crocus” in Turkish.
CİHAN m Turkish
Turkish form of JAHAN.
CİHANGİR m Turkish
Turkish form of JAHANGIR.
CILA f Portuguese
Portuguese diminutive of CECILIA.
CILI f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of CECILIA.
CILKA f Slovene
Slovene diminutive of CECILIA.
CILLA f Swedish, Dutch
Diminutive of CECILIA.
CILLE f Danish
Danish diminutive of CECILIA.
CILLIAN m Irish
Probably from Gaelic ceall meaning “church” combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint who evangelized in Franconia. He was martyred in Würzburg.
CILLÍN m Irish
Variant of CILLIAN.
CINÁED m Scottish, Irish
Means “born of fire” in Gaelic. This was the name of the first king of the Scots and Picts (9th century). It is often Anglicized as Kenneth.
ÇINAR m Turkish (Modern)
Means “plane tree” in Turkish (genus Platanus), derived from Persian چنار (chenar).
CINDERELLA f Literature
Means “little ashes”, in part from the French name Cendrillon. This is the main character in the folk tale Cinderella about a maltreated young woman who eventually marries a prince. This old story is best known in the English-speaking world from the French author Charles Perrault’s 1697 version. She has other names in other languages, usually with the meaning “ashes”, such as German Aschenputtel and Italian Cenerentola.
CINDI f English
Diminutive of CYNTHIA.
CINDRA f English (Rare)
Combination of CINDY and SANDRA.
CINDY f English
Diminutive of CYNTHIA or LUCINDA. Like Cynthia, it peaked in popularity in the United States in 1957.
CINTA f Indonesian
Means “love” in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit चिन्ता (chinta).
CÍNTIA f Portuguese
Portuguese form of CYNTHIA.
CINTIA f Spanish, Hungarian
Spanish and Hungarian form of CYNTHIA.
CINZIA f Italian
Italian form of CYNTHIA.
CIONAODH m Irish
Modern Irish form of CINÁED.
CIPRIAN m Romanian
Romanian form of Cyprianus (see CYPRIAN).
CIPRIANO m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Cyprianus (see CYPRIAN).
CIRCE f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κίρκη (Kirke), possibly from κίρκος (kirkos) meaning “hawk”. In Greek mythology Circe was a sorceress who changed Odysseus’s crew into hogs, as told in Homer’s Odyssey. Odysseus forced her to change them back, then stayed with her for a year before continuing his voyage.
CIRÍACO m Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese form and Spanish variant of CYRIACUS.
CIRIACO m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of CYRIACUS.
CIRIL m Slovene
Slovene form of CYRIL.
CIRILA f Slovene
Slovene feminine form of CYRIL.
CIRILLO m Italian
Italian form of CYRIL.
CIRINO m Italian, Spanish
Diminutive of CIRO.
CIRO m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of CYRUS.
CISMAAN m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of OSMAN.
CISSY f English
Variant of SISSY.
CITLALI f & m Indigenous American, Nahuatl
Means “star” in Nahuatl.
CITLALLI f & m Indigenous American, Nahuatl
Variant of CITLALI.
CITRA f Indonesian
Means “image” in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit चित्र (chitra).
CLAES m Swedish
Swedish short form of NICHOLAS.
CLAIR m French, English
French form of Clarus (see CLARA).
CLAIRE f French, English
French form of CLARA.
CLANCY m Irish, English (Rare)
From the Irish surname Mac Fhlannchaidh, which means “son of Flannchadh”. The Irish name Flannchadh means “red warrior”.
CLARA f German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, Romanian, English, Swedish, Danish, Late Roman
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus, which meant “clear, bright, famous”. The name Clarus was borne by a few early saints. The feminine form was popularized by the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), a friend and follower of Saint Francis, who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares. As an English name it has been in use since the Middle Ages, originally in the form Clare, though the Latinate spelling Clara became more popular in the 19th century.
CLARE f English
Medieval English form of CLARA. This is also the name of an Irish county, which was itself probably derived from Irish clár meaning “plank, level surface”.
CLARENCE m English
From the Latin title Clarensis, which belonged to members of the British royal family. The title ultimately derives from the name of the town of Clare in Suffolk. As a given name it has been in use since the 19th century.
CLARETTA f Italian
Diminutive of CLARA.
CLARETTE f English (Rare)
Diminutive of CLARA.
CLARIBEL f English
Combination of CLARA and the popular name suffix bel. This name was used by Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene (in the form Claribell) and by Shakespeare in his play The Tempest (1611). Alfred Lord Tennyson also wrote a poem entitled Claribel (1830).
CLARICE f English
Medieval vernacular form of the Late Latin name Claritia, which was a derivative of CLARA.
CLARINDA f English
Combination of CLARA and the popular name suffix inda. It was first used by Edmund Spenser in his epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590).
CLARISA f Spanish
Spanish form of CLARISSA.
CLARISSA f English, Italian
Latinate form of CLARICE. This was the name of the title character in a 1748 novel by Samuel Richardson. In the novel Clarissa is a virtuous woman who is tragically exploited by her family and her lover.
CLARISSE f French
French form of CLARICE.
CLARITIA f Late Roman
Possibly a derivative of CLARA.
CLARITY f English (Rare)
Simply means “clarity, lucidity” from the English word, ultimately from Latin clarus “clear”.
CLARK m English
From an English surname meaning “cleric” or “scribe”, from Old English clerec originally meaning “priest”. A famous bearer of the surname was William Clark (1770-1838), an explorer of the west of North America. It was also borne by the American actor Clark Gable (1901-1960).
CLARUS m Late Roman
Masculine Latin form of CLARA. This was the name of several early saints.
CLAUD m English
Variant of CLAUDE.
CLAUDE m & f French, English
French masculine and feminine form of CLAUDIUS. In France the masculine name has been common since the Middle Ages due to the 7th-century Saint Claude of Besançon. It was imported to Britain in the 16th century by the aristocratic Hamilton family, who had French connections. A famous bearer of this name was the French impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).
CLAUDETTE f French
French feminine form of CLAUDIUS.
CLÁUDIA f Portuguese
Portuguese feminine form of CLAUDIUS.
CLÀUDIA f Catalan
Catalan feminine form of CLAUDIUS.
CLAUDIA f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Biblical, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of CLAUDIUS. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament. As a Christian name it was very rare until the 16th century.
CLAUDIE f French
French feminine variant of CLAUDE.
CLAUDINE f French
Feminine form of CLAUDIUS.
CLÁUDIO m Portuguese
Portuguese form of CLAUDIUS.
CLAUDIO m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of CLAUDIUS.
CLAUDIU m Romanian
Romanian form of CLAUDIUS.
CLAUDIUS m Ancient Roman
From a Roman family name that was possibly derived from Latin claudus meaning “lame, crippled”. This was the name of a patrician family prominent in Roman politics. The ancestor of the family was said to have been a 6th-century BC Sabine leader named Attius Clausus, who adopted the name Appius Claudius upon becoming a Roman citizen. The family produced several Roman emperors of the 1st century, including the emperor known simply as Claudius. He was poisoned by his wife Agrippina in order to bring her son Nero (Claudius’s stepson) to power. The name was later borne by several early saints, including a 7th-century bishop of Besançon.
CLAUS m German, Danish
German short form of NICHOLAS.
CLAY m English
From an English surname that originally referred to a person who lived near or worked with clay. This name can also be a short form of CLAYTON.
CLAYTON m English
From a surname that was originally derived from various English place names, all meaning “clay settlement” in Old English.
CLÉA f French
Short form of CLÉOPÂTRE.
CLEDWYN m Welsh
Derived from the Welsh element caled “rough” combined with gwyn “white, fair, blessed”.
CLEENA f Irish
Anglicized form of CLÍODHNA.
CLEISTHENES m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Κλεισθένης (Kleisthenes), derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning “glory” and σθένος (sthenos) meaning “strength”. This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and reformer. He helped establish democracy in Athens.
CLEITUS m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLEITOS.
CLELIA f Italian
Italian form of CLOELIA.
CLEM m English
Short form of CLEMENT.
CLEMATIS f English (Rare)
From the English word for a type of flowering vine, ultimately derived from Greek κλήμα (klema) meaning “twig, branch”.
CLÉMENCE f French
French feminine form of Clementius (see CLEMENT).
CLEMENCE f English
Feminine form of Clementius (see CLEMENT). It has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it became rare after the 17th century.
CLEMENCY f English (Rare)
Medieval variant of CLEMENCE. It can also simply mean “clemency, mercy” from the English word, ultimately from Latin clemens “merciful”.
CLEMENS m German, Dutch, Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare), Danish (Rare), Late Roman
Original Latin form of CLEMENT, as well as the German, Dutch and Scandinavian form.
CLÉMENT m French
French form of Clemens (see CLEMENT).
CLEMENT m English
English form of the Late Latin name Clemens (or sometimes of its derivative Clementius), which meant “merciful, gentle”. This was the name of 14 popes, including Saint Clement I, the third pope, one of the Apostolic Fathers. Another saint by this name was Clement of Alexandria, a 3rd-century theologian and church father who attempted to reconcile Christian and Platonic philosophies. It has been in general as a given name in Christian Europe (in various spellings) since early times. In England it became rare after the Protestant Reformation, though it was revived in the 19th century.
CLEMENTE m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Clemens (see CLEMENT).
CLEMENTIA f Late Roman
Feminine form of Clemens or Clementius (see CLEMENT).
CLÉOPÂTRE f Ancient Greek (Gallicized)
French form of CLEOPATRA.
CLEOPHAS m Biblical
Form of CLOPAS used in several versions of the New Testament.
CLETIS m English (Rare)
Variant of CLETUS.
CLETO m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Short form of ANACLETO.
CLETUS m English
Short form of ANACLETUS. This name is sometimes used to refer to the third pope, Saint Anacletus. It can also function as an Anglicized form of KLEITOS.
CLEVE m English
Short form of CLEVELAND.
CLEVELAND m English
From a surname that was derived from an Old English place name meaning “hilly land”. This was the surname of American president Grover Cleveland (1837-1908). It is also the name of an American city, which was founded by surveyor Moses Cleaveland (1754-1806).
CLÍDNA f Irish Mythology
Old Irish form of CLÍODHNA.
CLIFF m English
Short form of CLIFFORD or CLIFTON.
CLIFFORD m English
From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning “ford by a cliff” in Old English.
CLIFTON m English
From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning “settlement by a cliff” in Old English.
CLÍMACO m Spanish
Spanish form of Climacus, derived from Greek κλῖμαξ (klimax) meaning “ladder”. The 7th-century monk Saint John Climacus (also known as John of the Ladder) acquired this name because he wrote a book called The Ladder of Divine Ascent.
CLIMACUS m Late Roman
Latin form of CLÍMACO.
CLIMENT m Catalan
Catalan form of Clemens (see CLEMENT).
CLINT m English
Short form of CLINTON. A notable bearer is American actor Clint Eastwood (1930-), who became famous early in his career for his western movies.
CLINTON m English
From a surname that was originally from an Old English place name meaning “settlement on the River Glyme”. A famous bearer of the surname is former American president Bill Clinton (1946-).
CLIO f Greek Mythology (Latinized), Italian (Rare)
Latinized form of KLEIO.
CLÍODHNA f Irish, Irish Mythology
Possibly means “shapely” in Irish Gaelic. In Irish legend this was the name of a beautiful goddess. She fell in love with a mortal named Ciabhan and left the Land of Promise with him, but when she arrived on the other shore she was swept to sea by a great wave.
CLÍONA f Irish
Variant of CLÍODHNA.
CLISTHENES m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Variant of CLEISTHENES.
CLITUS m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLEITOS.
CLIVE m English
From a surname meaning “cliff” in Old English, originally belonging to a person who lived near a cliff.
CLODAGH f Irish
From the name of a river in Tipperary, Ireland.
CLODOVICUS m Ancient Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized form of Chlodovech (see LUDWIG).
CLOE f Spanish, Italian
Spanish and Italian form of CHLOE.
CLOÉ f Portuguese, French
Portuguese form and French variant of CHLOE.
CLOVER f English (Rare)
From the English word for the wild flower, ultimately deriving from Old English clafre.
CLOVIS m Ancient Germanic (Latinized), French
Shortened form of Clodovicus, a Latinized form of Chlodovech (see LUDWIG). Clovis was a Frankish king who united France under his rule in the 5th century.
CLYDE m English
From the name of the River Clyde in Scotland, from Cumbric Clud, which is of uncertain origin. It became a common given name in America in the middle of the 19th century, perhaps in honour of Sir Colin Campbell (1792-1863) who was given the title Baron Clyde in 1858.
CLYTEMNESTRA f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κλυταιμνήστρα (Klytaimnestra), from κλυτός (klytos) meaning “famous, noble” and μνηστήρ (mnester) meaning “courter, wooer”. In Greek legend Clytemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon and the mother of Orestes and Electra. While her husband was away during the Trojan War she took a lover, and upon his return she had him murdered. She was subsequently killed by Orestes.
CLYTIA f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLYTIË.
CNAEUS m Ancient Roman
Roman variant of GNAEUS.
CNUT m History
Variant of KNUT.
COBA f Dutch
Short form of JACOBA.
COBUS m Dutch
Short form of JACOBUS.
COBY m & f English
Masculine or feminine diminutive of JACOB.
COCHISE m Indigenous American, Apache
From Apache chis meaning “oak, wood”. This was the name of a 19th-century chief of the Chiricahua Apache.
COCO f Various
Diminutive of names beginning with Co, influenced by the word cocoa. However, this was not the case for French fashion designer Coco Chanel (real name Gabrielle), whose nickname came from the name of a song she performed while working as a cabaret singer.
CODIE m & f English (Modern)
Variant or feminine form of CODY.
CODRIN m Romanian
From Romanian codru meaning “forest”, a word of uncertain origin.
CODRUȚ m Romanian
From Romanian codru meaning “forest”, a word of uncertain origin.
CODY m English
From the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, which means “descendant of CUIDIGHTHEACH“. A famous bearer of the surname was the American frontiersman and showman Buffalo Bill Cody (1846-1917).
CÓEMGEIN m Irish
Original Irish form of KEVIN.
COEN m Dutch
Short form of COENRAAD.
COENRAAD m Dutch
Dutch form of CONRAD.
COEUS m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of KOIOS.
COHEN m English
From a common Jewish surname that was derived from Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen) meaning “priest”. This surname was traditionally associated with the hereditary priests who claimed descent from the biblical Aaron.
COILEAN m Irish
Irish form of CAILEAN.
COINNEACH m Scottish
Derived from Gaelic caoin “handsome”. It is often Anglicized as Kenneth.
COKKIE f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of CORNELIA.
