$Unique_ID{PAR00370}
$Font{NP}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Names for Girls:  C}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Harder, Kelsey}
$Subject{Names Girls C}
$Log{}

The Ultimate Baby Name Book


Names for Girls:  C


Caci (see Casey)

Cacilia (see Cecilia)

Cairistiona (see Christina)

Caitlin            Welsh form of Catherine or Katharine.  This name was seldom
                   before used in the United States, but it became very
                   popular in the 1980s.  Perhaps its rhythmic cadence; the
                   original sound in the combination of two popular names,
                   Kate and Lynn; or the desire to use a less-common form of
                   Catherine has struck a chord with modern parents.
     Famous name:  Caitlin Thomas (writer)
      Variations:  Caitlan, Catlee, Catlin

Caitria (see Catherine, Katharine)

Cam (see Camilla)

Camella (see Camilla)

Camila (see Camilla)

Camilla            Possibly Etruscan through Latin camillus, "messenger" or
                   "young ceremonial attendant."  In Roman mythology, Camilla
                   was an attendant to the goddess Diana.  In England, the
                   name was popular during the eighteenth century, when the
                   classics were revered.  The name has always been popular in
                   Italy and France.  The name was briefly popular in the
                   United States, perhaps because of Greta Garbo's role in the
                   1936 movie Camille.  Its unfortunate contemporary
                   connotation is Hurricane Camille.  Because of the damage
                   caused by Camille on the Texas coast in the 1960s, the name
                   was officially retired from the lists of names given to
                   hurricanes.
       Nicknames:  Cam, Cammie, Cammy, Millie, Milly
      Variations:  Camella, Camila (Spanish), Camille (French), Kamilla
                   (German and Polish)

Camille (see Camilla)

Cammie, Cammy (see Camilla)

Candace, Candice   Greek kandake, "white."  This was the name and title of the
                   queens of ancient Ethiopia.  It has always been popular in
                   the United States.
    Famous names:  Candace Stevenson (poet)
                   Candice Bergen (actress)
       Nicknames:  Candee, Candi, Candie, Candy, Dace, Dacey, Kandi, Kandie,
                   Kandy
      Variations:  Candida (Spanish), Candis, Candita, Canducha, Daisy,
                   Kandace

Candee, Candi, Candie (see Candace)

Candida (see Candace)

Candis (see Candace)

Candita (see Candace)

Canducha (see Candace)

Candy              Form of Candace and Candice; also, Sanskrit "sweet."

Carel (see Carol)

Caren (see Karen)

Caresse (see Carissa)

Carey (see Carol)

Cari (see Carol, Kerry)

Carilla            Feminine form of Carl, Old German "a man or farmer."

Carin (see Karen)

Carina (see Karen)

Carisa (see Carissa)

Carissa            Latin "dear little one."
      Variations:  Caresse (French), Carisa, Charissa, Cressie

Carla              Feminine form of Carl, Old German "a man or farmer."  This
                   name may have started out as a form of Caroline or
                   Charlotte.
     Famous name:  Carly Simon (singer)
      Variations:  Carlee, Carley, Carlie, Carlita, Carlotta, Carly, Carola,
                   Charlotte, Karla, Karlee, Karly

Carlen (see Carol)

Carlee, Carley, Charlie (see Carla)

Carlin (see Carol, Caroline)

Carline (see Charlotte)

Carling            Old English Kerlinghou, "hill where old women or witches
                   gather," a place name in Yorkshire, England.

Carlita (see Carla, Carol)

Carlota (see Carol, Charlotte)

Carlotta (see Carla, Carol, Charlotte)

Carly (see Carla, Carol)

Carma              Sanskrit "destiny"; also, a variation of Carmel or Carmen.
       Variation:  Karma

Carmea (see Carmen)

Carmel             Hebrew "the garden."  In the twelfth century, the order of
                   the Carmelite nuns was founded on Mt. Carmel in Israel.  In
                   the United States, the name is usually associated with the
                   beautiful village of Carmel on Monterey peninsula in
                   California.
       Nicknames:  Carma, Carmie, Carmy, Lita
      Variations:  Carmela (Italian), Carmelina, Carmelita (Spanish),
                   Carmella, Carmen (Spanish), Karmel, Melina (Italian)

Carmela (see Carmel)

Carmelina (see Carmel, Carmen)

Carmelita (see Carmel)

Carmella (see Carmel)

Carmen             Spanish form of Carmel; or Latin carmea, "song."  Although
                   an unusual English name, Carmen is popular in Italy and
                   Spain.
     Famous name:  Carmen Miranda (entertainer)
       Nicknames:  Carma, Carmia
      Variations:  Carmea, Carmelina (Italian), Carmencita (Spanish),
                   Carmilina, Carmina, Carmine, Carmita, Charmain, Charmaine

Carmencita (see Carmen)

Carmia (see Carmen)

Carmie (see Carmel)

Carmilina (see Carmen)

Carmina (see Carmen)

Carmine (see Carmen)

Carmita (see Carmen)

Carmy (see Carmel)

Caro (see Carol, Caroline)

Carol              French "song," also, Irish Cathaoir; also, feminine form
                   of Charles and a shortened form of Caroline.  The names
                   Carolina and Caroline are much older than Carol, which
                   first appeared in the nineteenth century.
    Famous names:  Carol Burnett (actress)
                   Carol Kane (actress)
 Other spellings:  Carel, Carole, Carroll, Caryl
       Nicknames:  Carey, Cari, Carly, Caro, Carrie, Carry, Cary, Kari, Lina
                   (German), Lola, Lolita, Lotta, Lotti, Lottie
      Variations:  Carla, Carlen, Carlene, Carlin, Carlita, Carlota, Carlotta,
                   Carola (Latin), Carolin, Carolina (Italian), Caroline,
                   Carolyn, Charla, Charleen, Charlene, Charlina, Charlotta,
                   Charlotte (French), Charmain, Charmaine, Charmian,
                   Charmion, Cherlyn, Cheryl, Karel, Karla, Karlen, Karlene,
                   Karlotta, Karole, Karoline (German), Karoly, Sharleen,
                   Sharlene, Sharlet, Sharyl, Sheree, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl

Carola (see Carol)

Carole             Variation of Carol.
     Famous name:  Carole King (singer)

Caroliana (see Caroline)

Carolin (see Carol)

Carolina (see Carol, Caroline)

Caroline           Feminine form of Carl, Old German "a man or farmer."  This
                   name may have Italian origins, but it began appearing
                   frequently in eighteenth-century England after Caroline of
                   Anspach married George II and was crowned queen in 1727.
                   St. Caroline was the queen's granddaughter; she was
                   abandoned by her husband, later George IV, and founded a
                   new order of knighthood, the Order of St. Caroline.  In
                   literature, the name was favored by George Gordon, Lord
                   Byron, who addressed three poems to Caroline.  Today, the
                   name retains its association with royalty through Princess
                   Caroline of Monaco.
    Famous names:  Caroline Herrera (fashion designer)
                   Caroline Herschel (astronomer)
                   Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (President Kennedy's daughter)
       Nicknames:  Caro, Carol, Carrie, Carry, Lina, Line, Lola, Loleta,
                   Lotte, Lotty
      Variations:  Carlin, Caroliana, Carolina (Spanish), Carrola, Cayoya,
                   Charleen, Charlene, Charlotte, Kara, Karla (German),
                   Karolina (Polish), Karoline, Lolanda, Sharleen, Sharlene,
                   Sharline

Carolyn            Variation of Carol.
     Famous name:  Carolyn Waldo (swimmer)

Carrie, Carry      Forms of Carol or Caroline.  This name first appeared in
                   the nineteenth century and was very popular in the United
                   States.  It was one of the top-50 names in 1875 and 1900.
                   After falling from favor with new parents, it enjoyed a
                   revival in the 1980s.  The spelling Cary is usually
                   considered to be a boys' name.
    Famous names:  Carrie Fisher (actress)
                   Carry Nation (temperance leader)
  Other spelling:  Cary, Kerry

Carrola (see Caroline)

Carroll            Variation of Carol.
     Famous name:  Carroll Baker (actress)

Cary (see Carrie, Carol)

Caryl (see Carol)

Casey              From the Gaelic Cathasach, "brave."  This traditionally
                   male name is currently being used for girls in the United
                   States.
      Variations:  Caci, Kaci, Kacie, Kasey

Cass (see Cassandra)

Cassandra          Greek "the prophet."  Cassandra was the unfortunate
                   daughter of Priam and Hecuba, the king and queen of Troy.
                   The god Apollo was attracted to her, and she agreed to a
                   liaison in exchange for the gift of prophecy.  When she
                   spurned him, he sought revenge by making sure that his gift
                   would be useless; he caused her to be believed by no one.
                   Cassandra foresaw the fall of Troy but could do nothing to
                   prevent it.  The Frame has never been popular, although the
                   nickname Cassie is beginning to be used more frequently.
       Nicknames:  Cass, Cassie, Sandi, Sandra, Sandy
      Variations:  Cassandre (French), Kassandra (Greek)

Cassandre (see Cassandra)

Cassie (see Cassandra, Catherine)

Cat (see Catherine)

Catalina (see Catherine, Katharine)

Caterina           Original Latin form of Catherine or Katharine.

Cath (see Catherine)

Catharina (see Catherine, Katharine)

Catharine (see Catherine, Katharine)

Catherine          Greek Aikaterine, meaning unknown; also, Greek katharos,
                   "pure."  The original spelling of this name with a K was
                   changed by the Romans with the usual substitution of C for
                   K.  No matter how it is spelled, this name has been
                   extremely popular since the Middle Ages and is associated
                   with purity, beauty, and grace.  It is one of the few
                   feminine names that has consistently appeared among the
                   top-50 most-popular names in both England and the United
                   States since 1875.  The third-century St. Catherine of
                   Alexandria is the first of many saints with this name.  St.
                   Catherine's opposition to the worship of idols caused her
                   to be tortured on a spiked catherine wheel.  When the wheel
                   shattered, 200 soldiers who had witnessed the scene were
                   immediately converted to Christianity.  The Roman emperor
                   Maxentius was so infuriated that he ordered them all
                   beheaded.  The story of St. Catherine of Siena has a more
                   historically factual basis.  She was a fourteenth-century
                   saint who campaigned for the pope's return to Rome from
                   Avignon and resurgence of a devout life for all Christians.
                   There are at least three other saints with the name, St.
                   Catherine dei Ricci, St. Catherine of Genoa, and St.
                   Catherine of Bologna.  The name also has an impressive
                   royal lineage in England, France, and Russia.  The wife of
                   Henry II of France, Catherine di Medici, vigorously
                   persecuted the Huguenots.  Catherine II, Empress of Russia,
                   was the wife of Peter III.  She became known as Catherine
                   the Great and is famous both for her decadent personal life
                   and her long and impressive reign.  In England, the
                   best-known Catherines are three of the wives of Henry VIII.
                   Katharine of Aragon was Henry's first wife, the widow of
                   his brother.  His divorce from her led to the founding of
                   the Church of England.  The unfortunate Catherine Howard
                   was beheaded because of her alleged adultery.  Catharine
                   Parr, his sixth wife, outlived Henry, although she narrowly
                   escaped the fate of some of her predecessors.  Literary
                   Catherines are also strong willed, from Shakespeare's The
                   Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost to Ernest
                   Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.  Today, Catherine in its
                   many forms is the name of many prominent actresses,
                   including Catherine Bach, Kate Capshaw, Katharine Cornell,
                   Catherine Deneuve, Kathryn Grayson, Catherine Hicks, Kate
                   Jackson, Kate Mulgrew, Kate Nelligan, Catherine Oxenberg,
                   Katharine Ross, Katharine Schlesinger, Catherine Speak,
                   Kathleen Turner, Cathy Tyson, and, of course, the
                   incomparable Katharine Hepburn.
 Other spellings:  Catharine, Cathryn, Katharine, Kathryn
       Nicknames:  Cassie, Cat, Cath, Catie, Cathie, Cathy, Katy, Kay, Ketti
                   (German), Kitty, Reena, Rina, Trine (Norwegian)
      Variations:  Caitlin (Welsh), Caitria (Irish), Catalina (Italian),
                   Caterina (Italian), Catharina (Dutch), Cathleen, Cathweg,
                   Catrena, Catriona (Scottish), Ekaterina (Russian), Kaat,
                   Kaatje (Dutch), Kara, Karen, Karin, Karina, Kassia
                   (Slavic), Kate, Katharina (German), Katheryn, Kathleen,
                   Kathy, Katie, Katinka (Russian), Katren, Katri, Katrina,
                   Katrinka, Katterle (German), Katy

Cathie (see Catherine)

Cathleen (see Catherine, Katharine)

Cathryn (see Catherine, Katharine)

Cathweg (see Catherine, Katharine)

Cathy              Form of Catherine.

Catie (see Catherine)

Catlee (see Caitlan)

Catlin (see Caitlan)

Catrena (see Catherine, Katharine)

Catriona (see Catherine, Katharine)

Caye (see Kay)

Cayoya (see Caroline)

Cecca (see Frances)

Ceccarella (see Frances)

Cecelia (see Cecilia)

Cecile (see Cecilia)

Cecilia            Feminine form of Cecil, Latin caecus, "blind."  St.
                   Cecilia was a third-century Christian who converted her
                   husband and brother, and was martyred for her faith.  She's
                   the patron saint of music and has often been celebrated in
                   song and poetry.  Chaucer tells her story in The Canterbury
                   Tales, while William Wordsworth, Alexander Pope, and John
                   Dryden wrote poems in honor of her and in celebration of
                   music.
  Other spelling:  Cecelia
       Nicknames:  Cele, Celie, Ciel, Cissie, Cissy, Sissie, Sissy
      Variations:  Cacilia (German), Cecile (French), Cecilie, Cecily, Celia
                   (Swedish), Celine (French), Cicely, Cicily, Kikelia,
                   Sheelagh, Sheelah (Irish), Sheila, Sheilah, Shelagh,
                   Sighile (Irish), Sile (Irish), Sileas (Scottish), Sisile
                   (Irish)

Cecilie, Cecily (see Cecilia)

Cecina (see Frances)

Cele (see Cecilia)

Celena (see Celeste, Selena)

Celene (see Celeste)

Celesta (see Celeste)

Celeste            Latin caelum, "heaven."  While the name has celestial
                   connotations, it is unusual.
     Famous name:  Celeste Holm (actress)
      Variations:  Celena, Celene, Celesta, Celestina, Celestine, Celestyn,
                   Celia, Celina (Polish), Shelina

Celestina (see Celeste)

Celestine (see Celeste)

Celestyn (see Celeste)

Celia (see Cecilia, Celeste)

Celie (see Cecilia, Selena)

Celina (see Celeste, Selena)

Celinda (see Selena)

Celinde (see Selena)

Celine (see Cecilia, Selena)

Celinee (see Selena)

Celvia (see Sylvia)

Channa (see Shannon)

Charise (see Cheryl)

Charissa (see Carissa)

Charla (see Carol)

Charlaine (see Charlene)

Charleen (see Carol, Caroline, Charlene, Charlotte)

Charlene           Feminine form of Charles, Old German "a man or farmer."
     Famous name:  Charlene Tilton (actress)
  Other spelling:  Charleen
      Variations:  Carol, Caroline, Charlaine (French), Charlotte, Sharleen,
                   Sharlene

Charlina (see Carol)

Charline (see Charlotte)

Charlot (see Charlotte)

Charlotta (see Carol, Charlotte)

Charlotte          Feminine form of Charles.  The name Charles is derived from
                   Charlemagne, the ninth-century Frank king who became
                   Emperor of the West.  The feminine form of the name is not
                   nearly as old.  It is likely that it preceded Caroline,
                   another feminine form of Charles, but the name has never
                   been as popular with royalty as Caroline.  Charlotte Corday
                   was the French revolutionary who stabbed Marat to death.
                   She died on the guillotine.
    Famous names:  Charlotte Bronte (writer)
                   Charlotte Rampling (actress)
  Other spelling:  Charlot
       Nicknames:  Carla, Charly, Karla, Lola, Loleta, Lolita, Lotta, Lottie,
                   Lotty
      Variations:  Carlene, Carline, Carlota (Spanish), Carlotta (Italian),
                   Carol, Caroline, Charleen, Charlene, Charline, Charlotta
                   (Swedish), Charyl, Cheryl, Karla, Karline, Karlotte
                   (German), Sharleen, Sharlene, Sheree, Sheri, Sherie,
                   Sherri, Sherrie, Sherrill, Sherry, Sheryl

Charly (see Charlotte)

Charmain, Charmaine (see Carmen, Carol)

Charmian (see Carol)

Charmion (see Carol)

Charyl (see Charlotte)

Chel (see Cherie)

Chelsea            English place name.  The current popularity of this name
                   may be influenced by the character played by actress Jane
                   Fonda in the Academy-Award-winning movie On Golden Pond.
  Other spelling:  Chelsey

Chelsey (see Chelsea)

Cher               Variation of Cherie or Cheryl.  The actress Cher created
                   her name from her given name, Cherilyn.

Chere, Cheri (see Cherie)

Cherie             French chere, "cherished, beloved."
      Variations:  Cher, Chere, Cheri, Chel, Cherise, Cheryl, Searlait
                   (Irish), Sheryl

Cheril (see Cheryl)

Cherilyn (see Cheryl)

Cherise (see Cherie)

Cherlyn (see Carol)

Cherry             Greek kerasion, "cherry tree or fruit."  Names from plants
                   and flowers, such as Blossom, Fern, Pansy, Poppy, and
                   Viola, were popular around the turn of the century, and
                   Cherry seems to fall into this category.  Marilyn Monroe
                   played a character named Cherry in the movie Bus Stop.
       Variation:  Cheryl

Cheryl             Variation of Carol or Charlotte.  This name may have begun
                   as a diminutive of Charlotte, but it's become a popular
                   name in its own right.
     Famous name:  Cheryl Ladd (actress)
 Other spellings:  Cheril, Cheryll, Sherryl, Sheryl, Sheryll
       Nicknames:  Cher, Cherie, Cherry, Sherry
      Variations:  Charise, Cherilyn, Sharise, Sherilyn

Cheryll (see Cheryl)

Chiara (see Clara)

Chichi (see Alice)

Chinue             Ibo (Nigeria) "God's own blessing."

Chita (see Alice)

Chloe              Greek kloe, "green, young plant."
     Famous name:  Chloe Webb (actress)
      Variations:  Clea, Cleo, Clo

Chris              Form of Christina or Christine.
     Famous name:  Chris Evert (tennis player)
 Other spellings:  Cris, Kris

Chrissie, Chrissy (see Christina)

Christabel (see Christina)

Christal (see Christina)

Christie           Variation of Christina.
     Famous name:  Christie Brinkley (fashion model)
 Other spellings:  Kristie, Kristy

Christin (see Kristen)

Christina          Feminine form of Christian, Greek, "anointed one."  The
                   third-century martyr St. Christina reportedly was shot to
                   death with arrows after angels helped her survive drowning.
                   In literature, the first character with this name was the
                   wife of Christian in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.  The
                   eighteenth-century poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert
                   Burns addressed poems to Christabel and Cristina.  The name
                   is exceedingly popular in the United States and northern
                   Europe, and has spun off many variations.
     Famous name:  Christina Rossetti (poet)
 Other spellings:  Cristina, Kristina
       Nicknames:  Chris, Chrissie, Chrissy, Christie, Cris, Crissie, Crissy,
                   Cristie, Kirsty, Kris, Kristie, Tina
      Variations:  Cairistiona (Scottish), Christabel, Christal, Christine,
                   Chryste, Karstin (Danish), Kirste (Scandinavian),
                   Kirsteen, Kirsten, Kirstie (Scottish), Kirstin (Norwegian),
                   Kristal (German), Kristen, Kristin, Krystyn (Polish),
                   Stina, Stine

Christine          Feminine form of Christian, Greek "anointed one."
     Famous name:  Christine Kaufmann (actress)
      Variations:  Christina, Christiane (German)

Chrystal (see Crystal)

Chryste (see Christina)

Cicely             Variation of Cecilia.
     Famous name:  Cicely Tyson (actress)

Cicily (see Cecilia)

Ciel (see Cecilia)

Cilla (see Priscilla)

Cinda (see Cyndi, Lucy)

Cindi, Cindie (see Cindy, Cynthia, Lucy)

Cindy              Form of Cynthia or Lucy; also, French cendre, "ashes," with
                   reference to Cinderella.
    Famous names:  Cindy Crawford (fashion model)
                   Cindy Pickett (actress)
 Other spellings:  Cindi, Cindie, Cyndi

Cinthia (see Cynthia)

Cissie, Cissy (see Cecilia)

Claire             French form of Clara.
    Famous names:  Claire Bloom (actress)
                   Claire Moore (artist)

Clairette (see Clara)

Clara              From the Latin clarus, "bright, clear."  Although it may
                   have older forms, this name appears to date to the
                   thirteenth century saint who founded an order of nuns who
                   emulated the Franciscan brothers.  The English form Clare
                   was popular for many centuries, and the name has been
                   transformed into many variations.  Clarinda was a popular
                   name in Restoration comedies, and Clarissa is the title
                   character of Samuel Richardson's popular
                   seventeenth-century novel.  "Claribel," a poem by Alfred,
                   Lord Tennyson, highlights another variation, which became
                   famous in the 1950s through the clown Clarabell on the
                   children's television show Howdy Doody.  Although Clara was
                   popular among the Victorians, it has not been a popular
                   name in the twentieth century.  Today, the French form
                   Claire is the most popular variation, particularly in the
                   United States.
    Famous names:  Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross)
                   Clare Boothe Luce (playwright)
      Variations:  Chiara (Italian), Claire (French), Clairette (French),
                   Clare (Irish), Clarenda, Clareta (Spanish), Clarey,
                   Claribel, Clarice (French), Clarin, Clarina, Clarine,
                   Clarinda, Clarisa, Clarissa, Clarita, Clarivel, Clarotte,
                   Clarrisa, Clary, Glara, Klara (Polish), Klare (German),
                   Klarissa, Lara (Russian), Sorcha (Scottish)

Clare (see Clara)

Clarenda (see Clara)

Clareta (see Clara)

Clarey (see Clara)

Claribel (see Clara)

Clarice (see Clara)

Clarin (see Clara)

Clarina (see Clara)

Clarinda (see Clara)

Clarine (see Clara)

Clarisa, Clarissa (see Clara)

Clarita (see Clara)

Clarivel (see Clara)

Clarotte (see Clara)

Clarrisa (see Clara)

Clary (see Clara)

Claudette (see Claudia)

Claudia            Feminine form of Claude, Latin "bright."  This is a very
                   old name, dating in Britain to the first century.  It is
                   more unusual today than it was 50 years ago.
    Famous names:  Claudia Cardinale (actress)
                   Claudette Colbert (actress)
      Variations:  Claudette, Claudina (Spanish), Claudine (French), Gladys
                   (Welsh), Klaudia (German)

Claudina (see Claudia)

Claudine (see Claudia)

Clea (see Chloe, Cleo)

Cleo               Greek kleios, "praise, fame"; also, a form of Cleopatra.
      Variations:  Chloe, Clea, Clio

Clio (see Cleo)

Clo (see Chloe)

Clorinda           Feminine form of Cloris.  This name was coined by the
                   Italian poet Tasso in Jerusalem Delivered by adding the
                   Italian diminutive suffix -inda to Cloris.

Clotilda           Old German Chlotichilda, "famous battle maiden," from hloda
                   [heavy] + hildi [battle].

Coleen             Irish cailun, "girl."  This name is distinctively Irish
                   and has never been popular in other countries except the
                   United States, where it was fairly popular earlier in this
                   century.
    Famous names:  Colleen Dewhurst (actress)
                   Colleen McCullough (novelist)
  Other spelling:  Colleen
      Variations:  Colena, Colene, Colline, Colly

Colena (see Coleen)

Colene (see Coleen)

Coletta (see Colette)

Colette            Form of Nicole, French feminine form of Nicholas, Greek
                   "victorious people."
     Famous name:  Colette Sidonie (novelist)
      Variations:  Coletta, Coseta

Colie (see Nicole)

Colleen (see Coleen)

Collette (see Nicole)

Colline (see Coleen)

Colly (see Coleen)

Con (see Constance, Consuela)

Connie             Form of Constance.
     Famous name:  Connie Chung (broadcast journalist)
  Other spelling:  Conny

Conny (see Connie, Constance, Consuela)

Consolacion (see Consuela)

Constance          Latin constantia, "constancy"; feminine form of
                   Constantine.  Among the Christians in the Roman Empire,
                   Constantine the Great was revered because he allowed the
                   practice of their religion.  The name Constantia was used
                   in imperial Roman families, and it spread through the
                   empire.  The diminutive form Connie is far more popular
                   today.
    Famous names:  Constance Bennett (actress)
                   Constance Towers (actress)
       Nicknames:  Con, Connie, Conny
      Variations:  Constancia, Constancy, Constantia, Constantina,
                   Constantine, Constanza (Spanish), Konstanze (German),
                   Kostancia (Russian), Stanca

Constancia (see Constance)

Constancy (see Constance)

Constantia (see Constance)

Constantina (see Constance)

Constantine (see Constance)

Constanza (see Constance)

Consuela           Spanish from Latin "consolation."  This popular Spanish
                   name is shortened from Nuestra Senora de Consuelo, Our Lady
                   of Consolation.  It was the original name of the singers
                   Connie Francis and Connie Stevens.
      Variations:  Con, Connie, Consolacion

Cora               Possibly Greek kore, "girl"; also, Irish corey, "spear."
                   In Greek mythology, Kore was the daughter of Demeter, the
                   goddess of grain.  Kore was captured by the god of the
                   underworld, and to get her daughter back, Demeter had to
                   promise that Kore, renamed Persephone, would return to the
                   underworld for half of the year.  The name Cora came into
                   use in the nineteenth century in England and was briefly
                   popular in the United States.
      Variations:  Coralie, Coreen, Corene, Coretta, Corette, Corina
                   (Spanish), Corinna, Corinne (French), Cory, Koren

Coral (see Corinna)

Coralie (see Cora, Corinna)

Corazon            Spanish "heart."

Cordelia           Possibly Gaelic "flower of the seas."  This is a popular
                   Irish name, but it's unusual elsewhere.  It is the name of
                   the tragic heroine of Shakespeare's King Lear.

Coreen, Corene (see Cora, Koren)

Coreta (see Coretta)

Coretta            Variation of Cora.
     Famous name:  Coretta Scott King (civil rights activist)
  Other spelling:  Coreta

Corette (see Cora)

Corey (see Cory)

Corina (see Cora)

Corine (see Koren)

Corinna            Form of Cora.  This very old name is unusual today and may
                   have been at the height of its popularity in the
                   seventeenth century, when the name had several literary
                   references.  The best known is probably Robert Herrick's
                   "Corinna's Going A-Maying," a poem that celebrates living
                   life to its fullest.
      Variations:  Coral, Coralie, Corinne (French)

Corinne (see Cora, Corinna)

Corliss            Old English "cheerful."

Cornela (see Cornelia)

Cornelia           Latin feminine form of Cornelius, a Roman family name
                   probably from cornus, "a horn."  Despite its ancient
                   lineage, Cornelia has never been a popular name.  The
                   best-known reference is the mother of two famous Romans,
                   Tiberius and Caius Gracchus.
     Famous name:  Cornelia Otis Skinner (actress)
       Nicknames:  Cornie, Nelie, Nella, Nell, Nila, Nellie
      Variations:  Cornela, Cornelie (French), Cornella, Cornelle, Cornilia

Cornelie (see Cornelia)

Cornella (see Cornelia)

Cornelle (see Cornelia)

Cornie (see Cornelia)

Cornilia (see Cornelia)

Cory               Possibly from Irish corey, "spear"; or a form of Cora.
                   This modern girls' name used to be a masculine name, unless
                   it is derived from Cora, which was popular earlier in this
                   century.
  Other spelling:  Corey

Coseta (see Colette)

Cosima             Greek "the world."

Courteney (see Courtney)

Courtney           French "one who lives at court."
  Other spelling:  Courteney

Cressie (see Carissa)

Cris (see Chris, Christina)

Crissie, Crissy (see Christina)

Cristie (see Christina)

Cristina (see Christina)

Crystal            Greek krystalio, "ice-clear, pure."  This is one of
                   today's most-popular names.  Its popularity has been
                   influenced by the character Krystle Carrington, played by
                   Linda Evans, on the television series Dynasty.
     Famous name:  Crystal Gayle (singer)
      Variations:  Chrystal, Kristal, Krystal, Krystle

Cybele (see Cybil, Sybil)

Cybil              Variation of Sybil, Greek "soothsayer."  This is a
                   contemporary spelling variation of the name Sybil.
     Famous name:  Cybill Shepherd (actress)
 Other spellings:  Cybele, Cybill, Cybille, Sybil

Cybill, Cybille (see Cybil, Sybil)

Cyd (see Cyndi)

Cyndi              Form of Cynthia.
     Famous name:  Cyndi Lauper (singer)
  Other spelling:  Cyndy
      Variations:  Cyd, Cinda, Cindy, Cyndy, Sindy

Cyndie, Cyndy (see Cyndi, Cynthia, Lucy)

Cynth (see Cynthia)

Cynthia            Greek Kynthia, meaning uncertain but associated with
                   Artemis, the moon goddess; also, Mt. Cynthus, a place
                   name.  The Greek goddess Artemis had many names including
                   Phoebe, Diana, and Cynthia.  Artemis was born on Mount
                   Cynthus, according to legend, which is apparently how the
                   name developed.  Cynthia has always been a popular name,
                   perhaps more so today than at any other time in history.
     Famous name:  Cynthia Sikes (actress)
  Other spelling:  Cinthia
       Nicknames:  Cindi, Cindie, Cindy, Cyndi, Cyndy, Cynth, Cynthie