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

of a white water-lily which blossoms at night.

      Chanel f.

      The name of this famous French perfume has been taken up as a girl’s name in recent years, especially by Afro-Americans. The perfume was named after Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, whose family name derives from an Old French word meaning ‘wine jar’, indicating an ancestral connection with the wine trade. Chanel is frequently spelt phonetically, taking such forms as Shanel, Shanell, Shanelle and Shannel. Chanelle is also used.

      Chantal f.

      This is a French name which has only been in use since the beginning of the 20th century. It was the surname, meaning ‘stone’, of the 16th century saint, Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal. It has been popular in the USA, where it has developed forms such as Chantalle and Chantel(l)e. It is pronounced, and sometimes spelt, with a ‘sh’ sound at the beginning.

      Charis f.

      From the Greek meaning ‘grace’. The ‘Ch’is pronounced as a ‘K’. It was first used as a first name in the 17th century, although in the 16th century the poet Edmund Spenser in the Faerie Queen used the form Charissa. It has been quite popular in the USA. Chrissa can be a short form of this or belong under the CHRISTINE group of names. There is some overlap between the names under CERI, CARA and Charis as they are pronounced so similarly.

      Charity f.

      From the Latin caritas, meaning ‘Christian love’. Translated into English as charity, it was adopted when it became the custom for Puritans to name childen after the Christian virtues. The name Charity was shortened to Cherry, and is the source of this name. Another abbreviation is Chattie, used also for CHARLOTTE.

      Charlene f.

      A 20th-century, feminine form of CHARLES. It may owe something to Charline, a Dutch form of CHARLOTTE. Charleen and Sharlene are also used (see also ARLENE).

      Charles m.

      Originally from an Old German word carl, meaning ‘man’, which was latinised as Carolus and then changed by the French to Charles. The Normans brought the name to England, but it did not become popular until its use by the Stuart kings of Britain caused it to be taken up by Royalists in the 17th century and Jacobites in the 18th century. Its popularity has continued ever since. The pet form Charlie is now common as the given form of the name. Chas, originally a written abbreviation, has now come to be used as a short form. Chuck is also used, and in Scotland Chae or Chay. Carlo, the Spanish and Italian form, is well used in the USA.

      Charlotte f.

      The French female form of CHARLES. It was introduced into Britain from France in the early 17th century. Goethe’s heroine from the romantic novel, The Sorrows of Werther, and Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV, increased its popularity. Abbreviations are Lottie, Lotty, Totty, Charlie and Chattie, and spellings such as Sharlott have been recorded. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names for a number of years. Carlotta is the Italian form.

      Charlton see Carlton

      Charmaine f.

      A 20th century name of rather obscure origin. It may well be a form of Charmian, from the Greek, meaning ‘joy’. This was the name of one of Cleopatra’s attendants in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. Strictly speaking, Charmian should be pronounced with a hard ‘c’, but the ‘sh’ pronunciation is also found. Charmaine is sometimes spelt Sharmaine.

      Charulata f.

      A Hindu name meaning ‘beautiful’.

      Chas see Charles

      Chase m.

      The rise in popularity of this surname, meaning ‘hunter’, as a first name in the USA probably owes much to its use for a character in the 1980s television series Falcon Crest.

      Chasity f.

      In 1969 the singer Cher and her husband Sonny Bono named their daughter Chastity. This name seems to have been misinterpreted, and Chasity developed as a first name in the USA.

      Chattie see Charity, Charlotte

      Chay see Charles

      Chelsea f.

      This name of a fashionable part of London, which originally indicated a ‘landing place (on the River Thames) for chalk or limestone’, is also a place name in Australia, where its use as a girl’s name seems to have begun. The name was introduced to America by a character in the film On Golden Pond, and its popularity was secured by the wide-spread publicity it received through Chelsea Clinton, daughter of US President Bill Clinton, who was named after a Joni Mitchell song. It is now well used in Britain. Spelling variants such as Chelsie, Chelsey and Chelsi are also found.

      Cheralyn, Cherilyn see Cheryl

      Cherie f.

      The French word for ‘darling’. The forms Cheri, Sherry, Sheree and Sherrie are phonetic spellings. Cher can be the French for ‘dear’ or a short form of CHERYL. Cherise can be regarded either as a development of Cherie, or as a form of Charisse, the French form of CHARIS.

      Cherry see Charity

      Cheryl f.

      This is probably a development of the name Cherry (see CHARITY). Other forms of the name are Cheralyn, Cherilyn, Sheril and Sheryl, and Cher can be a short form (see also CHERIE). These names came into general use only in the 1940s, but rapidly became popular.

      Chester m.

      A surname taken from the English city, used as a first name. The word comes from the Latin for ‘fort’.

      Chetan m.

      A Hindu name meaning ‘consciousness’ or ‘awareness’.

      Chevonne see Sheena

      Cheyenne f.

      The name of a famous American Indian nation, of unknown meaning. Cheyenne was first launched as a boy’s name in a TV series of that name in the USA in the late-1950s. Pronunciation of the name as Shyann, in which form it is also found, possibly linked it in parents’ minds with the name ANNE, suggesting its use for girls. In the USA it continues to grow in popularity.

      Cheyna see Shaina

      China see Chyna

      Chintana f.

      An Indian name meaning ‘meditation’. The form Chintanika is also used.

      Chip see Christopher

      Chloe, Chloë f.

      From the Greek, meaning ‘a green shoot’, a name given to the goddess Demeter who protected the green fields. It was a popular name in classical literature which was picked up by the Elizabethan poets. It is very popular at the moment. Chloris, ‘greenish’, is another name from Greek myth, and was again associated with fertility. It is sometimes spelt Cloris, to reflect the pronunciation of these names with a hard ‘c’.

      Chris see Christabel, Christine, Christopher

      Chrissa see Charis, Christine

      Chrissie, Chrissy see Christabel, Christine

      Christabel f.

      This name was first used in Britain in the 16th century, and is thought to be a combination of ‘Christ’ and the Latin bella to mean ‘beautiful Christian’. It is not a common name in Britain, although it is sometimes used in memory of the suffragette, Dame Christabel Pankhurst (1880–1958). It is also spelt Christobel and abbreviated forms are Chris, Chrissy, Chrissie or Christie.

      Christel, Christen see Christine

      Christian f. and m.

      This name, with its transparent meaning, has been used in Britain since the 13th century. It became more popular after its use by Bunyan for the hero of Pilgrim’s Progress, but has never been as common as the feminine form, CHRISTINE, although it is currently enjoying some popularity.

      Christie see Christabel, Christopher

      Christine