First-Time Parent and Gem Babies’ Names Bundle. Lucy Atkins

see Charles

      Carlotta see Charlotte

      Carlton, Charlton m.

      These names are both forms of an Old English place name and, later, a surname meaning ‘countryman’s farm’.

      Carlyn see Caroline

      Carmel f.

      From the Hebrew meaning ‘garden’, and the name of a mountain famous for its lush vegetation near the city of Haifa in Israel. St Louis founded the church and convent on this mountain which, as legend has it, the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus often visited. Carmen is the Spanish form of the name, Carmela the Italian, and Carmelita and Carmelina pet forms. Carmen is also the Latin word for song, and some people like to think of it in this sense, hence such modern coinages as Carmina, the Latin for ‘songs’.

      Carol f. and m.

      The female forms of this name, which include Carole, Carola and Caryl, were originally pet forms of CAROLINE or Carolina, but are now popular names in their own right. As a boy’s name it can be an English form of the Irish Cathal or, in its phonetic spelling, Cahal (‘battle-mighty’). It is also used in central Europe and often spelt Karol or Karel, deriving from Carolus, the latinised form of CHARLES, but it is an uncommon male name.

      Caroline, Carolyn f.

      These names come from Carolina, the Italian feminine form of Carlo. The name was introduced into Britain from southern Germany by Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Anspach, wife of George II. Both forms have been used steadily since the 18th century. Derivatives are Carla (see CARL), Carlyn, CAROL, Carola, Carole. Abbreviations include Carrie, Caddy, Caro and LYN.

      Caron see Karen

      Carrie see Caroline

      Carwen, Carwyn see Ceri

      Cary m.

      A surname which was only rarely used as a first name until it became famous through the film star Cary Grant. Ultimately, it probably goes back to one of a number of Irish surnames, including ones meaning ‘battle-king’ or ‘dark brown’.

      Caryl see Carol

      Caryn see Karen

      Carys see Ceri

      Casey f. and m.

      This comes from an Irish surname meaning ‘vigilant in war’. It can also be a form of the Polish name Casimir, ‘proclamation of peace’. This has a female form Casimira. The name takes various forms, often spelt with a ‘K’.

      Caspar see Jasper

      Caspian m.

      Although at first this looks like the name of the great Asian inland sea, use of Caspian as a first name comes from the character of Prince Caspian in C.S. Lewis’s Narina books, particularly the 1951 volume named after him.

      Cassandra f.

      In Greek literature this was the name of a prophetess and princess of Troy. She foretold the truth, but was never believed. The name first became popular in the Middle Ages and has continued in use ever since. It is shortened to Cassie and Cass and sometimes SANDRA or Sandy. Cass also occurs as a masculine name, when it may come from an Irish name meaning ‘curly-haired’.

      Cassia see Kezia(h)

      Cassidy f.

      This is an Irish surname, of unknown meaning, used as a first name, mainly in the USA. Cassie, also used as a name in its own right, is a short form it shares with CASSANDRA. It is occasionally used for boys.

      Cathal see Carol

      Catharine, Catherine, Cathleen, Cathy see Katharine

      Catriona f.

      A Gaelic form of KATHARINE. It was the title of a book by Robert Louis Stevenson, and became very popular in the 19th century as a result of this. Catrina, Katrina and Katrine are other forms of the name, and it becomes Catrin in Welsh. Riona is an Irish pet form.

      Cecily see Cecilia

      Cecil m.

      From the Latin meaning ‘blind’. It was the name of a famous Roman clan and was first adopted into English as a girl’s name. The popularity of the name in its masculine form only became marked in the 19th century, probably as one of several aristocratic surnames which it was then fashionable to use as first names.

      Cecilia f.

      The female version of CECIL. It was the name of a 2nd-century martyr and saint, the patroness of music. The name was first introduced into Britain by the Normans. Variant forms are Cicely, Cecily, Sisley, Cecil and the French Cecile (used for boys and girls in France). The popular shortened form Celia (which can also be derived from another Roman name, Coelia) probably came into fashion as a result of the Celia in Shakespeare’s play As You Like It. Other abbreviated forms are Sis, Ciss and Cissy or Sissy (see also SHEILA).

      Cedric m.

      This name seems to have been a creation of Sir Walter Scott’s for a character in the novel Ivanhoe. Scott is said to have used it by mistake for Cerdic who was the first king of the West Saxons. However, as there is a Welsh name Cedrych (‘pattern of generosity’), it may well be from this. Cedric became popular with parents as a result of the book Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886) by F.H. Burnett whose hero bore that name, and it may well also owe its fall in popularity to its association with the book and its hero’s smugly virtuous image. It does, however, show signs of coming back into fashion, particularly in the USA.

      Celeste f.

      From the Latin meaning ‘heavenly’. Pet forms, used as names in their own right, are Celestine, Celestina and Celesta.

      Celia see Cecilia

      Celina, Céline see Selina

      Cenydd see Kenneth

      Ceri f.

      A popular Welsh name, sometimes spelt Keri to reflect its pronunciation with a hard ‘c’. It comes from the Welsh word for ‘love’ as do the names Cerian, Cerys or Carys (recently chosen by Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas) and Cari. Carwen is ‘fair love’ and has a masculine form, Carwyn (see also KERRY).

      Ceridwen f.

      This name probably comes from the Welsh words for ‘poetry’ and ‘white, blessed’. It was the name of a Celtic goddess who was said to inspire poetry and was the mother of the great poet, Taliesin (‘radiant brow’). It is pronounced with a hard ‘c’ and is generally confined to Wales.

      Cerys see Ceri

      Chad m.

      The name (of uncertain meaning) of a 7th-century saint who was Bishop of Lichfield. The name became quite popular in America in the 20th century. A famous holder of the name was the Rev. Chad Varah, founder of The Samaritans.

      Chae see Charles

      Champak m.

      The Hindu name of a god, and of a tree bearing yellow flowers.

      Chandan m.

      An Indian name from the Sanskrit for ‘sandalwood’. The paste derived from sandalwood is important in Hindu religious ceremonies, when it is used to anoint statues of the gods and to make a mark on the foreheads of worshippers. Chandan occurs as a divine personal name in traditional Hindu texts.

      Chandra f., Chander m.

      An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘the moon’. In the Hindu religion, the moon is a god rather than a goddess, but the name Chandra is nevertheless a popular one for girls. The variant Chander is often used for boys while Chandrakala ‘moonbeams’, can be used for girls.

      Chandler m.

      The success of the television series Friends has led to an increased use of the name, originally a French surname meaning ‘candle maker’.

      Chandrakant m., Chandrakanta f.

      From the Sanskrit for ‘loved by the moon’,