Girl names beginning with C have been beloved for centuries. From queens and saints to modern chart-toppers, these names often convey grace, strength, and creativity.
Ancient Origins (Greek, Roman, Biblical)
Many early C names appear in scripture, mythology, and royal dynasties.
- Claudia – Roman family name, “lame”
- Clodia – Ancient Roman variant
- Cleopatra – Egyptian queen, “glory of the father”
- Cornelia – Roman noblewoman
- Cassandra – Greek myth, prophetess
- Calliope – Greek muse of epic poetry
- Chloe – Greek, “green shoot”
- Charis – Greek, “grace”
- Cyrene – Mythical nymph
- Calpurnia – Wife of Julius Caesar
- Ceres – Roman goddess of agriculture
- Clytemnestra – Mythological queen
- Caelia – Latin, “heavenly”
- Candida – Latin, “bright, white”
- Calista – Greek, “most beautiful”
- Cybele – Phrygian mother goddess
- Clytia – Water nymph in mythology
- Cordelia – Possibly Celtic, “heart”
- Caria – Ancient place name
- Cariah – Biblical name
- Clio – Muse of history
- Cynthia – Linked to Artemis, “from Mount Kynthos”
- Crispina – Roman empress
- Caelina – Roman record
- Corinna – Ancient Greek poetess
- Clea – Short Greek name, “glory”
- Charikleia – Ancient Greek heroine
- Cariah – Rare Biblical variant
- Claudiana – Roman usage
- Callista – Alternative of Calista
- Cinna – Roman family name
- Calypso – Mythological nymph
- Cassiopeia – Queen in Greek myth
- Carmel – Biblical, “garden”
- Candace – Ethiopian queen title
- Cappadocia – Regional noble usage
- Camilla – Roman warrior maiden
- Caieta – Mythological nurse
- Cerelia – Latin, “relating to spring”
- Claudina – Ancient diminutive
- Clodia Minor – Roman reference
- Clymene – Greek myth name
- Chryseis – Homeric name
- Carisia – Roman root name
- Cherith – Biblical stream name
- Carmia – Hebrew variant
- Chloris – Greek, “fresh greenery”
- Claudina – Recorded Roman
- Cypriana – From Cyprus
Medieval and Renaissance
Christian saints and noblewomen brought many C names into common use.
- Catherine – “Pure,” popular saint name
- Christina – Christian devotion
- Clara – “Bright, clear”
- Cecilia – Patron saint of music
- Constance – “Steadfast”
- Clemence – Medieval virtue name
- Clementina – Feminine of Clement
- Crispina – Saint, martyr
- Cunegonde – German noble saint
- Constantia – Medieval form
- Calixta – Feminine saint’s name
- Cassilda – Medieval record
- Carlotta – Italian variant
- Cateline – Old form of Catherine
- Clarissa – Medieval literary use
- Cherubina – Religious inspiration
- Cuniza – Lombard noble
- Crescentia – Medieval saint
- Cornelie – Early French form
- Cristabel – Medieval spelling
- Calixta – “Most beautiful”
- Celestina – Heavenly name
- Clemencia – Spanish form
- Cristiana – Medieval form
- Catelina – Variation of Catherine
- Constanza – Spanish, “steadfast”
- Cosima – Italian, “order, beauty”
- Cassandre – French form of Cassandra
- Cunizza – Italian noble
- Crispina – Popular saint name
- Crocia – Rare medieval form
- Ceridwen – Welsh mythology, used medievally
- Claribel – Early literary name
- Clarinda – Poetic invention
- Cameline – Medieval romance use
- Candida – Revival in church texts
- Clothilde – Frankish queen
- Cunegundis – Noble saint
- Carmelita – Spanish diminutive
- Columba – “Dove,” saint’s name
- Colette – French diminutive of Nicolette
- Cristina – Medieval record
- Catherina – Older Latinized form
- Catharina – Germanic spelling
- Caecilia – Early Latin form
- Columbaine – Romance-inspired
- Carlina – Medieval diminutive
- Clotilda – Royal Frankish queen
- Cherubina – Diminutive form
Victorian and Early Modern (1800s–early 1900s)
Literary movements, romantic ideals, and noble families influenced C names in this era.
- Charlotte – Widely popular
- Caroline – Noble and elegant
- Clementine – Vintage charm
- Cora – Inspired by literature
- Claudia – Roman revival
- Clarissa – Poetic resonance
- Cecily – Literary revival
- Cornelia – Noble Roman revival
- Christabel – Coleridge poem
- Celestine – Heavenly inspiration
- Cleo – Short and stylish
- Cyrilla – Rare, “lordly”
- Clotilde – Historic revival
- Carmina – Latin, “song”
- Concepcion – Religious devotion
- Carmelina – Italian usage
- Celeste – “Heavenly”
- Claribel – Victorian poetry
- Coralie – French romantic
- Clothilde – Historic noble use
- Cordelia – Shakespearean heroine
- Callista – Classical revival
- Consuela – Spanish, “consolation”
- Cecile – French refinement
- Carmela – Spanish usage
- Cleora – Literary name
- Collette – Alternate spelling
- Celinda – Romantic creation
- Christiana – Refined variant
- Charity – Virtue name
- Chastity – Victorian virtue name
- Concordia – Peaceful virtue name
- Clarinda – Romantic revival
- Christiane – Elegant form
- Corisande – Romantic literature
- Clematis – Botanical name
- Clothilde – Popular in Germany
- Cornelie – French noble
- Clarabelle – Popular with stage and stories
- Claudette – French diminutive
- Celina – Popular Victorian form
- Camellia – Flower name
- Constance – Enduring classic
- Cecilia – Enduring popularity
- Claudine – Elegant French
- Cinzia – Italian romantic
- Christabel – Literary, enduring
- Cressida – Shakespearean heroine
Modern Favorites (20th–21st Century, U.S. Focus)
From timeless classics to trending names, C names remain strong in modern U.S. charts.
- Charlotte – Top 10 U.S. name
- Camila – Spanish influence, “young ceremonial attendant”
- Chloe – Greek origin, consistently popular
- Claire – Classic, elegant
- Clara – Vintage revival
- Caroline – Timeless choice
- Cecilia – Musical and stylish
- Cali – Short and modern
- Catalina – Spanish heritage
- Cassidy – Modern Irish
- Callie – Sweet diminutive
- Cameron – Unisex name
- Camryn – Variant spelling
- Cassie – Popular 1980s–90s
- Courtney – 1980s favorite
- Charlee – Trendy spelling
- Carmen – Classic with Spanish roots
- Chelsea – Place name, 1980s–90s favorite
- Caitlin – Popular Irish form
- Crystal – Gemstone-inspired
- Cynthia – Peaked mid-1900s
- Candace – Long-running Biblical name
- Carly – 1970s–90s common
- Carlyn – Modern variant
- Ciara – Irish origin
- Charli – Pop culture boost
- Chaya – Hebrew, “life”
- Claudia – Stylish Latin classic
- Collins – Surname chic
- Coraline – Literary revival
- Cleo – Stylish short name
- Casey – Unisex appeal
- Calianna – Invented modern
- Calliope – Myth revival
- Carter – Rising unisex
- Cherish – Virtue-inspired
- Clover – Botanical trend
- Colbie – Musical tie
- Cecily – Vintage revival
- Cassia – Botanical and Biblical
- Celine – Elegant, popularized by Celine Dion
- Campbell – Surname trend
- Charity – Rare but enduring
- Carlyle – Modern surname form
- Carissa – 1980s favorite
- Clarisse – Elegant variant
- Carlina – Stylish update
- Cyan – Modern color name
FAQs
What is the oldest girl name starting with C?
Claudia, Cleopatra, and Cassandra appear in some of the earliest records of C names in Rome and Greece.
What are the most popular C girl names today?
Charlotte, Chloe, Camila, Claire, and Clara are consistently among the top choices in the U.S.
Which C girl names have royal connections?
Charlotte, Caroline, and Catherine all have strong ties to European royalty.
From Cleopatra to Charlotte, girl names starting with C have carried cultural influence across centuries. They remain stylish, meaningful, and widely chosen today.
