Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Cedrella f English (Rare, ?), LiteraturePerhaps intended to be a feminine variant of
Cedric. This is the name of a minor character in J. K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series of books; the character is Cedrella Weasley, née Black.
Ceili f English (Modern, Rare)Variant of
Kaylee. It has been influenced by the Irish word
céilí, which refers to a traditional Gaelic social gathering involving folk music and dancing (sometimes storytelling and poetry), ultimately derived from Old Irish
céle "companion".
Celestial f English (American, Rare)Derived from the English adjective
celestial meaning "of the sky, heavenly", which is ultimately derived from the Latin adjective
caelestis meaning "of the heavens" (see
Caelestis).
Celica f English (Rare)Derived from Latin
caelicus, meaning "heavenly, celestial". It jumped in popularity after the Japanese car company Toyota used it for one of their vehicles in 1970.
Centurian m English (Puritan)From a frequent misspelling of the English noun
centurion, which refers to a Roman army officer that commanded a century (i.e. a group of one hundred). This was recorded as a Puritan given name, presumably used in reference to the centurion who was present at the crucifixion according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (who is widely considered to be the first Christian), or due to other occurrences of centurions in the New Testament.
Cerelia f English (Rare)Possibly derived from
Ceraelia, the name of the ancient Roman festival dedicated to the agricultural goddess
Ceres.
Cereus m & f EnglishFrom the genus name of a type of night-blooming cacti found from California to Chile, from Latin
cereus "waxen, waxy", which was also used as a substantive to mean "a wax-light, -taper" ("particularly those brought by clients to their patrons as presents at the time of the Saturnalia"), and so called because the cactus' shape "suggests a candle."
Cerintha f English (Rare)From the name of a flower, literally "wax-flower" from Greek κηρος (
keros) "beeswax" combined with ανθος (
anthos) "flower".
Cerissa f English (Rare)From the brand of perfume called Cerissa, which was introduced by Charles Revson in 1974. The name itself might possibly be a variant of
Cerise. It was also used by Barbara Cartland for the heroine of her historical romance novel
The Heart Triumphant (1976).
Cerulean m English (American, Modern, Rare)From the colour
cerulean meaning “sky blue”, derived from the Latin
caeruleus, perhaps related to
caelum which means “sky”. It is recently but rarely used as a name.
Cettie f English (Rare)English diminutive of
Celeste,
Celestia and
Celestine. A known bearer of this name was the American abolitionist and philanthropist Laura Spelman Rockefeller (1839-1915), who was affectionately referred to as Cettie because of her middle name, which was Celestia.
Ceylon m English (Rare)From the historical name of the British crown colony (present-day Sri Lanka), borrowed from Portuguese
Ceilão and ultimately derived from Sanskrit सिंहल
(simhala), literally meaning "lionlike" and composed of सिंह
(simha) meaning "lion" and the suffix -ल
(-la).
Cézanne f & m English, AfrikaansFrom the French artist, Paul Cézanne. This name is sometimes used as a feminine name by Afrikaners in South Africa due to its similarity to
Suzanne.
Chai f English (American)From Hindi word 'chai', derived from Chinese word 'cha' meaning "tea". Masala chai, literally "spice tea", is a flavored tea drink from India that usually consists of black tea, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, and ginger (though variations exist)... [
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Chalet f English (American, Rare)Chalet is used as both first and last name, and the SSA data shows that Chalet is used as a girl's name 100% of the time. As a word, Chalet means Swiss house with a sloping roof and wide eaves or a house built in this style.
Challis f & m English (Rare)Transferred use of the surname
Challis. This is also a word (possibly derived from the surname) for a type of fine fabric. Alternatively, this could be a variant of
Chalice.
Chalon f & m EnglishThe name may derive from the Chalon people, one of eight divisions of the Ohlone (Costanoan) people of Native Americans who lived in Northern California. It may also derive from the French surname Chalon, of unknown meaning, possibly derived from the French town Châlons-sur-Marne... [
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Chamomile f & m English (American, Rare)After the herb used for tea. Ultimately from Greek
khamaimēlon "earth apple", because the flowers smell reminiscent of apples.
Chancy m & f EnglishPossibly either a diminutive (in the case of the masculine use) or an inteded feminine form (in the case of the feminine use) of
Chance or a variant of
Chauncy.
Chanlin m & f EnglishLikely an invented name combining the name element
Chan with
Lyn.
Chantilly f English (Modern, Rare)From the name of a town in France. The town's name is derived from the Gallo-Roman name
Cantilius. It can also be given in reference to Chantilly lace, which is named after the town.
Chantry m & f EnglishFrom an English surname, meaning "singer in a chantry chapel" or "one who lives by a chantry chapel", derived from Old French chanterie, which derives from French chanter "to sing". This name was used for the main character in the movie What if?, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan, released in 2013.
Chaos m & f Greek Mythology (Latinized), English (Rare)From the English word meaning "gaping void," ultimately from the Greek
khaos "abyss, that which gapes wide open, is vast and empty." In Hesiod's 'Theogeny,' Chaos is the primeval emptiness of the Universe, who gave birth to Gaea (Mother Earth), Tartarus (embodiment of the underworld), Eros (god of love), Erebus (embodiment of silence), and Nyx (embodiment of night).
Chapel f & m EnglishTransferred use of the surname
Chapel and a "subordinate place of worship added to or forming part of a large church or cathedral, separately dedicated and devoted to special services," from Old French
chapele (12c., Modern French
chapelle), from Medieval Latin
capella, cappella "chapel, sanctuary for relics," literally "little cape," diminutive of Late Latin
cappa "cape."
Chappell f & m English (American, Rare)Transferred use of the surname
Chappell. A notable bearer is singer Chappell Roan (1998- ), born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, who chose her stage name from her grandfather's surname.
Charitie f EnglishVariant of
Charity. Notable bearer is Charitie Lees Smith, a hymn-writer in the 19th century.
Charm f English (Modern)From the English word
charm meaning "the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration". This name was used by Australian Olympic swimmer and YouTuber Justin Norris for his daughter born 2019.
Charmer f & m English (Rare)Derived from the English-speaking word charmer, which is a person with an attractive and engaging personality. Typically one who uses this to impress or manipulate others.
Chatty f EnglishDiminutive of
Charlotte mentioned by Charlotte M. Yonge in her 'History of Christian Names'. Perhaps it was an individual nickname for this writer, who produced 160 books.
Chay m EnglishDiminutive of
Charles. 'Appeared in 1975 when the British yachtsman Chay Blyth was receiving a great deal of publicity. Further used since then. In the case of Mr Blyth, the name is a pet form of
Charles.'
Ched m EnglishVariant of
Chad (chiefly used in the United States), a short form of names beginning with
Ched- (e.g.
Chedomir) or a diminutive of
Charles paired with a middle name that starts with
Ed- (e.g.
Edward and
Edwin) or
D-.
Cheer f English (Rare)From the English word
cheer, referring to a feeling of happiness, or a shout of joy or encouragement. Ultimately derived via Old French
chiere from Late Latin
cara "head".
Chelan f English (Canadian), AmericanFrom the name of a lake and city in the American state of Washington, which is derived from the Salish Indian word
Tsi-Laan meaning "deep water".