The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz

name with an excellent pedigree. Rare today, so if you want a name no one else is using, this should be on your list. Carna, Carniella, Cornalia, Corneelia, Corneelija, Corneilla, Cornela, Cornelija, Cornella, Cornelle, Cornelya, Cornie, Cornilear, Cornisha, Corny, Korneelia, Korneelya, Kornelija, Neely, Nell, Nelli, Nellie, Nelly. International: Cornelie (French), Melia, Nelia (Spanish), Kornelia, Nele (German), Kornelis (Swedish), Kornelia (Czech).

      CORONA. Spanish, ‘crown’. Let’s face it – most modern British men will think of the beer. Coronetta, Coronette, Coronna.

      CORSICA. Place name. The picturesque Mediterrean island birthplace of Napoleon makes an easy switch from atlas to baby name book, with its delicate, feminine ending. Just don’t consider neighbouring island Sardinia.

      CORVINA. Latin, ‘like a raven’. Sounds too much like a car model. Corva, Corveena, Corvetta.

      COSETTE. French, ‘victorious people’. This female version of Nicholas is best known as the heroine of Les Misérables. Cossetta, Cossette, Cozette. International: Cosetta (Italian).

      

COSIMA. (KO-see-mah) Greek, feminine variation of COSMO. The kind of exotic name the British upper classes once used for their daughters; most often heard in the classical music world. Cosma, Cosme, Kosma.

      

COURTNEY. French, courteous, from the court, also Old French nickname, ‘short nose’. Although still in the Top 100, today’s Courtney is more apt to be the babysitter than the baby. Cordney, Cordni, Cortenay, Corteney, Cortland, Cortne, Cortnea, Cortnee, Cortneia, Cortneigh, Cortney, Cortni, Cortnie, Cortny, Corttney, Courtaney, Courtany, Courtena, Courtenay, Courtene, Courteneigh, Courteney, Courteny, Courtland, Courtnae, Courtnay, Courtne, Courtnee, Courtnée, Courtnei, Courtneigh, Courtni, Courtnie, Courtnii, Courtny, Courtonie, Kordney, Kortney, Kortni, Kortnie, Kortny, Kourtenay, Kourtneigh, Kourtney, Kourtnee, Kourtnie.

      CRESCENT. French, ‘increasing, growing’. Intriguing word name with a pretty sound. Crescence, Crescenta, Crescentia, Cressant, Cressent, Cressentia, Cressentya.

      

CRESSIDA. (KRESS-i-da) Greek, ‘gold’. Mythological and Shakespearean heroine name much better known among theatre-goers. It is worth considering by the more adventurous baby namer. Cressa.

      CRIMSON. Colour name. A possible competitor for Scarlett’s success, though lacking that Gone With the Wind charm.

      CRISANTA. Spanish from Greek, ‘golden flower, chrysanthemum’. Pretty and highly unusual Christine

      Stellar Starbabies Beginning with C

Caledonia	Shawn Colvin
Carys	Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas
Cecilia	Vera Wang
Celeste	Catherine Oxenberg & Casper van Dien
Chanel	Nelly
Charlotte	Amy Brenneman, Harry Connick Jr, Sigourney Weaver, Dylan McDermott
Chloe	Rupert Murdoch
Cicely	Sandra Bernhard
Clara	Ewan McGregor
Clementine	Claudia Schiffer
Coco	Courteney Cox & David Arquette
Cosima	Nigella Lawson
Cosma	Nina Hagen

      alternative. Chrisanta, Chrisantha, Chrissanta, Chrissantha, Chryssantha.

      CRISPINA. Latin, ‘curly- haired’. Unfortunately, everyone will hear this feminine form of Crispin as Christina.

      CRISTINA. Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian variation of CHRISTINA. One case where the streamlined version feels more exotic.

      

CRUZ. Spanish, ‘cross’. A sister for Concepciòn and Corazòn, although its masculine side was emphasised when the high profile David Beckhams chose it for their son. Crucita, Cruise.

      CRYSTAL. Gem name. Originally a male name, Crystal was hot in the 1980s along with shoulder pads and big hair, but retains none of the sparkle it once had. Christal, Christalle, Chrystalle, Chrystal-Lynn, Chrystel, Chrystle, Cristal, Cristalie, Cristalina, Cristalle, Cristel, Cristela, Cristelia, Cristella, Cristelle, Cristhie, Cristle, Crysta, Crystala, Crystale, Crystalee, Crystalin, Crystall, Crystalle, Crystaly, Crystel, Crystela, Crystelia, Crystelle, Crysthelle, Crystl, Crystle, Crystol, Crystole, Crystyl, Khristalle, Khrystle, Kristle, Krystal, Krystle. International: Criostal (Irish Gaelic), Chrystal (Irish), Christel, Christelle (French), Krystalle (German).

      

CUBA. Place name. Cuba Gooding Jr notwithstanding, this sounds better for girls.

      

CURRAN. Irish, ‘hero, champion’. Curry-flavoured Irish surname-y name that could work as well for girls as boys. Cura, Curin, Curina, Curinna, Curren, Currin, Curryn.

      

CURRY. Word name. Peppy choice. Currey, Curri, Currie, Kurri, Kurry.

      

CURTIS. French, ‘courteous, polite’. This familiar boys’ name could be considered as a fresh girls’ choice.

      CYANE. (SY-an) Greek, ‘bright blue enamel’. Mythological Sicilian nymph who lived in a pool and whose name is an intriguing twist on the colour name trend. Cyan.

      CYBELE. (si-BELL) Greek, ‘the mother of all gods’. This