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’, referring to a mythical jewel mentioned in classical Hindu texts, supposedly formed by the moon’s rays. It is also the name 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
