‘crooked nose’ this is the name of a Scots clan. Its popularity as a boy’s name has spread from Scotland. It is now being used for girls as well.
Camilla f.
A name from Roman legend. Camilla was Queen of the Volsci, a great warrior and exceptionally swift runner. The name may be Etruscan, and possibly means ‘one who helps at sacrifices’. It was recorded in Britain as early as 1205 and is popular at the moment. Camille is the French form which can be used for either sex, and Milla, Milly and Millie are used as short forms.
Candice, Candace f.
This is an ancient title of the Queen of Ethiopia. It is also spelt Candis; Candy is a short form.
Candida f.
From the Latin meaning ‘white’. The name was not used in Britain until the early 20th century and its introduction was probably due to G.B. Shaw’s play, Candida.
Candis, Candy see Candice
Cara f.
This Italian word meaning ‘dear’ came into use as a first name only in the 20th century and is often spelt Kara in the USA. Pet forms, used as names in their own right, include Carissa, Carita and particularly Carina or Karina. These are found in a number of variant forms such as Karissa, Karena, Caryssa and Charissa, and it is not always easy to tell when parents are using forms of Cara, KAREN or CHARIS.
Caradoc m.
From the Welsh for ‘beloved’. It is common in Wales, but not in other parts of Britain. In the form Caratacus, the name of a Briton who fought against the Romans in the first century, it is one of the earliest recorded British names.
Cari see Ceri
Carl, Karl m., Carla, Karla f.
These are German forms of CHARLES. The names have been in general use in America for a century, and from there spread to Britain. The feminines Carla or Karla, Carlie or Carly can also be found as forms of the names found under CAROLINE.
Carlo 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
