Feminine Names

gender
usage
Briseida f Literature
Form of Briseis used in medieval tales about the Trojan War.
Briseis f Greek Mythology
Patronymic derived from Βρισεύς (Briseus), a Greek name of unknown meaning. In Greek mythology Briseis (real name Hippodameia) was the daughter of Briseus. She was captured during the Trojan War by Achilles. After Agamemnon took her away from him, Achilles refused to fight in the war.
Bristol f English (Modern)
From the name of the city in southwest England that means "the site of the bridge".
Brit f Norwegian
Norwegian short form of Birgitta.
Britannia f English (Rare)
From the Latin name of the island of Britain, in occasional use as an English given name since the 18th century. This is also the name of the Roman female personification of Britain pictured on some British coins.
Britney f English (Modern)
Variant of Brittany. This name is borne by the American pop singer Britney Spears (1981-).
Britt f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian short form of Birgitta.
Britta f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian short form of Birgitta.
Brittany f English
From the name of the region of Brittany in the northwest of France, called in French Bretagne. It was named for the Britons who settled there after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the invasions of the Anglo-Saxons.... [more]
Bron f Welsh
Short form of Bronwen.
Brónach f Irish
Means "sad", derived from Irish brón meaning "sorrow". Saint Brónach was a 6th-century Irish mystic.
Bronagh f Irish
Anglicized form of Brónach.
Bronislava f Czech, Slovak, Russian
Czech, Slovak and Russian feminine form of Bronisław.
Bronisława f Polish
Feminine form of Bronisław.
Bronte m & f English (Rare)
From a surname, an Anglicized form of Irish Ó Proinntigh, itself derived from the given name Proinnteach, probably from Irish bronntach meaning "generous". The Brontë sisters — Charlotte, Emily, and Anne — were 19th-century English novelists. Their father changed the spelling of the family surname from Brunty to Brontë, possibly to make it coincide with Greek βροντή meaning "thunder".
Bronwen f Welsh
Seemingly derived from Welsh bron "breast" and gwen "white, blessed", though it has sometimes occurred as a variant spelling of the legendary name Branwen. It has been used as a given name in Wales since the 19th century. It is borne by a character in Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley, as well as the 1941 movie adaptation.
Bronwyn f English
Variant of Bronwen used in the English-speaking world (especially Australia and New Zealand).
Brook m & f English
From an English surname that denoted one who lived near a brook.
Brooke f English
Variant of Brook. The name came into use in the 1950s, probably influenced by American socialite Brooke Astor (1902-2007). It was further popularized by actress Brooke Shields (1965-).
Brooklyn f & m English (Modern)
From the name of a borough of New York City, originally named after the Dutch town of Breukelen, itself meaning either "broken land" (from Dutch breuk) or "marsh land" (from Dutch broek). It can also be viewed as a combination of Brook and the popular name suffix lyn. It is considered a feminine name in the United States, but is more common as a masculine name in the United Kingdom.
Bruna f Italian, Portuguese, Croatian
Feminine form of Bruno.
Brunella f Italian
Feminine diminutive of Bruno.
Brünhild f Germanic Mythology
German form of Brunhild, used when referring to the character from the Nibelungenlied.
Brunhild f German, Germanic Mythology, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements brunna "armour, protection" and hilt "battle". It is cognate with the Old Norse name Brynhildr (from the elements brynja and hildr). In Norse legend Brynhildr was the queen of the valkyries who was rescued by the hero Sigurd. In the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied she was a queen of Iceland and the wife of Gunther. Both of these characters were probably inspired by the eventful life of the 6th-century Frankish queen Brunhilda (of Visigothic birth).... [more]
Brunhilda f History
Variant of Brunhild, referring to the Frankish queen.
Brunihild f Germanic
Old German variant of Brunhild.
Brunilda f Albanian, Spanish (Rare), Italian (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Albanian, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Brunhild.
Brunjōhildiz f Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Brunhild and Brynhildr.
Bryanne f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Brian.
Brygida f Polish
Polish form of Bridget.
Bryn m & f Welsh, English (Modern)
Means "hill, mound" in Welsh. In Wales it is almost always a masculine name, though elsewhere in the English-speaking world it can be unisex (see Brynn).
Brynhildr f Norse Mythology, Old Norse
Old Norse cognate of Brunhild. In the Norse epic the Völsungasaga Brynhildr was rescued by the hero Sigurd in the guise of Gunnar. Brynhildr and Gunnar were married, but when Sigurd's wife Gudrun let slip that it was in fact Sigurd who had rescued her, Brynhildr plotted against him. She accused Sigurd of taking her virginity, spurring Gunnar to arrange Sigurd's murder.
Brynhildur f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Brynhildr.
Brynja f Icelandic, Old Norse
Means "armour" in Old Norse.
Brynn f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Bryn. It was brought to limited public attention in 1978 when the actress Brynn Thayer (1949-) began appearing on the American soap opera One Life to Live.
Bryony f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of Eurasian vine, formerly used as medicine. It ultimately derives from Greek βρύω (bryo) meaning "to swell".
Budur f Arabic
Strictly feminine form of Badr.
Buffy f English
Diminutive of Elizabeth, from a child's pronunciation of the final syllable. It is now associated with the main character from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
Buğlem f Turkish (Modern)
Meaning unknown.
Buhle f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Ndebele
From Xhosa and Ndebele buhle "beautiful, handsome", from the root hle.
Bukola f Western African, Yoruba
Means "add to wealth" in Yoruba.
Bulan f Indonesian
Means "moon" (or "month") in Indonesian.
Bunny f English
Diminutive of Berenice.
Burçin f & m Turkish
Means "hind, doe" in Turkish.
Burcu f Turkish
Means "sweet smelling, fragrant" in Turkish.
Burgundy f English (Rare)
This name can refer either to the region in France, the wine (which derives from the name of the region), or the colour (which derives from the name of the wine).
Buse f Turkish
Means "kiss" in Turkish, from Persian بوسه (buseh).
Bushra f Arabic, Urdu
Means "good news" in Arabic.
Businge m & f Eastern African, Kiga
Means "peace" in Rukiga.
Büşra f Turkish
Turkish form of Bushra.
Buttercup f Literature
From the English word for the yellow flower (genus Ranunculus). Author William Goldman used it for Princess Buttercup in his book The Princess Bride (1973) and the subsequent film adaptation (1987).
Cäcilia f German
German form of Cecilia.
Cäcilie f German
German form of Cecilia.
Cadence f English (Modern)
From an English word meaning "rhythm, flow". It has been in use only since the 20th century.
Caderina f Sardinian
Sardinian form of Katherine.
Cadhla f Irish
Means "beautiful" in Irish.
Cadi f Welsh
Short form of Catrin.
Caecilia f Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Cecilia.
Cáelfind f Old Irish
Old Irish form of Caoilfhionn.
Caelia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caelius.
Caelina f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caelinus.
Caesonia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caesonius. This name was borne by Milonia Caesonia, the last wife of the Roman emperor Caligula.
Caetana f Portuguese
Portuguese feminine form of Caietanus (see Gaetano).
Çağla f Turkish
Means "almonds" in Turkish.
Çağrı m & f Turkish
Means "invitation" or "falcon" in Turkish.
Cahaya m & f Indonesian, Malay
Means "light" in Malay and Indonesian.
Cahya m & f Indonesian
Variant of Cahaya.
Cahyo m & f Javanese
Javanese form of Cahaya.
Cailin f English (Rare)
Variant of Kaylyn. It also coincides with the Irish word cailín meaning "girl".
Cairistìona f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Christina.
Cáit f Irish
Short form of Caitríona.
Caitlín f Irish
Irish form of Cateline, the Old French form of Katherine.
Caitlin f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Caitlín.
Caitria f Irish (Rare)
Possibly a form of Caitríona.
Caitríona f Irish
Irish form of Katherine.
Caitrìona f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine.
Cajsa f Swedish
Variant of Kajsa.
Calafia f Literature
Probably invented by the 16th-century Spanish writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, who likely based it on califa, the Spanish form of Arabic خليفة (khalifah), an Islamic title meaning "successor" (see Khalifa). In Montalvo's novel The Adventures of Esplandián it is borne by the queen of the island of California (the inspiration for the name of the American and Mexican states).
Calanthe f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of orchid, ultimately meaning "beautiful flower", derived from Greek καλός (kalos) meaning "beautiful" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower".
Calanthia f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Calanthe.
Calfuray f Indigenous American, Mapuche (Hispanicized)
Means "violet flower" in Mapuche, from kallfü "purple, blue" and rayen "flower".
Calista f English, Portuguese (Rare), Spanish (Rare)
Feminine form of Callistus. As an English name it might also be a variant of Kallisto.
Calixta f Spanish, Portuguese (Rare)
Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Calixtus.
Calla f English
From the name of two types of plants, the true calla (species Calla palustris) and the calla lily (species Calla aethiopica), both having white flowers and growing in marshy areas. Use of the name may also be inspired by Greek κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty".
Callie f English
Diminutive of Caroline, or sometimes of names beginning with Cal.
Callirrhoe f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Καλλιρρόη (Kallirrhoe), derived from the word καλλίρρους (kallirrhous) meaning "beautiful flowing". This was the name of several characters in Greek mythology, including a daughter of Achelous. A small moon of Jupiter is named after her.
Callisto 2 f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Kallisto. A moon of Jupiter bears this name.
Calogera f Italian
Feminine form of Calogero.
Calpurnia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Calpurnius. This was the name of Julius Caesar's last wife.
Calypso f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Καλυψώ (Kalypso), which probably meant "she that conceals", derived from καλύπτω (kalypto) meaning "to cover, to conceal". In Greek myth this was the name of the nymph who fell in love with Odysseus after he was shipwrecked on her island of Ogygia. When he refused to stay with her she detained him for seven years until Zeus ordered her to release him.
Cam 1 f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (cam) meaning "orange (fruit)".
Cam 2 m & f English
Short form of Cameron.
Cambria f Various
Latin form of the Welsh Cymru, the Welsh name for the country of Wales, derived from cymry meaning "the people". It is occasionally used as a given name in modern times.
Camélia f French
French form of Camellia.
Camelia f Romanian
From camelie, the Romanian spelling of camellia (see Camellia).
Camellia f English (Rare)
From the name of the flowering shrub, which was named for the botanist and missionary Georg Josef Kamel.
Cameron m & f English
From a Scottish surname meaning "crooked nose" from Gaelic cam "crooked" and sròn "nose". As a given name it is mainly used for boys. It got a little bump in popularity for girls in the second half of the 1990s, likely because of the fame of actress Cameron Diaz (1972-). In the United States, the forms Camryn and Kamryn are now more popular than Cameron for girls.
Cəmilə f Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Jamilah.
Camila f Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Camilla.
Camilla f English, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, German, Ancient Roman, Roman Mythology
Feminine form of Camillus. This was the name of a legendary warrior maiden of the Volsci, as told by Virgil in the Aeneid. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by Fanny Burney's novel Camilla (1796).
Camille f & m French, English
French feminine and masculine form of Camilla. It is also used in the English-speaking world, where it is generally only feminine.
Cammie f English
Diminutive of Camilla.
Campbell m & f English
From a Scottish surname meaning "crooked mouth" from Gaelic cam "crooked" and beul "mouth".
Camryn f & m English (Modern)
Variant (typically feminine) of Cameron.
Canan f Turkish
Means "sweetheart, beloved" in Turkish.
Candace f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the hereditary title of the queens of Ethiopia, as mentioned in Acts in the New Testament. It is apparently derived from Cushitic kdke meaning "queen mother". In some versions of the Bible it is spelled Kandake, reflecting the Greek spelling Κανδάκη. It was used as a given name by the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. It was popularized in the 20th century by a character in the 1942 movie Meet the Stewarts.
Cande f & m Spanish
Short form of Candelaria or Candelario.
Candela f Spanish
Short form of Candelaria.
Candelaria f Spanish
Means "Candlemas" in Spanish, ultimately derived from Spanish candela "candle". This name is given in honour of the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Candelas f Spanish
Diminutive of Candelaria.
Candi f English
Variant of Candy.
Candice f English
Variant of Candace.
Cándida f Spanish
Spanish form of Candida.
Cândida f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Candida.
Candida f Late Roman, English
Late Latin name derived from candidus meaning "white". This was the name of several early saints, including a woman supposedly healed by Saint Peter. As an English name, it came into use after George Bernard Shaw's play Candida (1898).
Candide m & f French (Rare), Literature
French form of Candidus or Candida. The French philosopher and author Voltaire used this name for the main character (a male) in his satire Candide (1759). In French candide also means "naive", which is descriptive of the book's protagonist.
Candis f English
Variant of Candace.
Candy f English
Diminutive of Candace. It is also influenced by the English word candy.
Candyce f English
Variant of Candace.
Cansu f Turkish
From Turkish can meaning "soul, life" and su meaning "water".
Caoilfhionn f Irish
Derived from the Old Irish elements cáel "slender" and finn "white, blessed". This was the name of several Irish saints.
Caoimhe f Irish
Derived from Irish caomh meaning "dear, beloved, gentle".
Capri f English (Modern)
From the name of the picturesque Italian island of Capri. It is likely from Greek κάπρος (kapros) meaning "wild boar", though it could also be of Etruscan origin or from Latin capri meaning "goats".
Caprice f English
From the English word meaning "impulse", ultimately (via French) from Italian capriccio.
Capricia f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Caprice.
Caprina f Various
From the name of the Italian island of Capri.
Capucine f French
Means "nasturtium" in French. This was the stage name of the French actress and model Capucine (1928-1990).
Cara f English
From an Italian word meaning "beloved" or an Irish word meaning "friend". It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, though it did not become popular until after the 1950s.
Caramia f Various
From the Italian phrase cara mia meaning "my beloved".
Cardea f Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin cardo meaning "hinge, axis". This was the name of the Roman goddess of thresholds, door pivots, and change.
Caren f English
Variant of Karen 1.
Carey m & f English
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Ciardha, which is a patronymic derived from the given name Ciardha.
Cari f English
Variant of Carrie.
Caridad f Spanish
Means "charity" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, meaning "Our Lady of Charity". This is the name of the patron saint of Cuba, with a shrine located in the town of El Cobre.
Carin f Swedish
Variant of Karin.
Carina 1 f English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Late Roman
Late Latin name derived from cara meaning "dear, beloved". This was the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr. It is also the name of a constellation in the southern sky, though in this case it means "keel" in Latin, referring to a part of Jason's ship the Argo.
Carine f French
French form of Carina 1. It can also function as a short form of Catherine, via Swedish Karin.
Carissa f English
Variant of Charissa.
Carita f Swedish
Derived from Latin caritas meaning "dearness, esteem, love".
Carlene f English
Feminine diminutive of Carl.
Carley f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Carl.
Carlie f English
Feminine form of Carl.
Carlijn f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Carel.
Carlisa f English (Rare)
Combination of Carla and Lisa.
Carlisle m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from the name of a city in northern England. The city was originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city.
Carlota f Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Charlotte.
Carlotta f Italian
Italian form of Charlotte.
Carly f English
Feminine form of Carl. A famous bearer is the American singer Carly Simon (1945-), who inspired a rise in popularity in this name in the 1970s.
Carlyn f English
Contracted variant of Caroline.
Carme 1 f Galician, Catalan
Galician and Catalan form of Carmel.
Carme 2 f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κάρμη (Karme), which was derived from κείρω (keiro) meaning "to shear". This was the name of a Cretan goddess of the harvest.
Carmel f English, Jewish
From the title of the Virgin Mary Our Lady of Mount Carmel. כַּרְמֶל (Karmel) (meaning "garden" in Hebrew) is a mountain in Israel mentioned in the Old Testament. It was the site of several early Christian monasteries. As an English given name, it has mainly been used by Catholics.
Carmela f Italian, Spanish, Galician
Italian, Spanish and Galician form of Carmel.
Carmelita f Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Carmel.
Carmella f English
Latinized form of Carmel.
Carmen f Spanish, English, Italian, French, Romanian, German
Medieval Spanish form of Carmel, appearing in the devotional title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora del Carmen meaning "Our Lady of Mount Carmel". The spelling has been altered through association with the Latin word carmen meaning "song". This was the name of the main character in George Bizet's opera Carmen (1875).
Carminho f Portuguese
Diminutive of Carmo. It has been popularized in Portugal by the singer simply known as Carminho (1984-).
Carmo m & f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Carmel.
Carol 1 f & m English
Short form of Caroline. It was formerly a masculine name, derived from Carolus. The name can also be given in reference to the English vocabulary word, which means "song" or "hymn".
Carola f Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish
Feminine form of Carolus.
Carolann f English
Combination of Carol 1 and Ann.
Carole f French
French feminine form of Carolus.
Carolien f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Carolus.
Carolin f German
German feminine form of Carolus.
Carolina f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Swedish
Latinate feminine form of Carolus. This is the name of two American states: North and South Carolina. They were named for Charles I, king of England.
Carolyn f English
Variant of Caroline.
Caron f & m Welsh
From the name of places near the town of Tregaron in Ceredigion, Wales.
Carreen f English (Rare)
Used by Margaret Mitchell in her novel Gone with the Wind (1936), where it is a combination of Caroline and Irene.
Carrie f English
Diminutive of Caroline. This name declined in use shortly after the 1976 release of the horror movie Carrie, which was based on a 1974 novel by Stephen King.
Carrol m & f English
Variant of Carroll (masculine) or Carol 1 (feminine).
Carry f English
Diminutive of Caroline.
Carson m & f English
From a Scottish surname of uncertain meaning. A famous bearer of the surname was the American scout Kit Carson (1809-1868).
Cary m & f English
Variant of Carey. A famous bearer was the British-American actor Cary Grant (1904-1986).
Caryl f English
Variant of Carol 1.
Caryn f English
Variant of Karen 1.
Carys f Welsh
Derived from Welsh caru meaning "love". This is a relatively modern Welsh name, in common use only since the middle of the 20th century.
Casandra f Spanish, Romanian
Spanish and Romanian form of Cassandra.
Casey m & f English
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Cathasaigh, a patronymic derived from the given name Cathassach. This name can be given in honour of Casey Jones (1863-1900), a train engineer who sacrificed his life to save his passengers. In his case, Casey was a nickname acquired because he was raised in the town of Cayce, Kentucky.
Casilda f Spanish
Meaning uncertain. This is the name of the 11th-century patron saint of Toledo, Spain. It might have an Arabic origin (Saint Casilda was a Moorish princess), perhaps from قصيدة (qasidah) meaning "poem". Alternatively it could be derived from a Visigothic name in which the second element is hilds meaning "battle".
Cass f & m English
Short form of Cassandra, Cassidy and other names beginning with Cass.
Cassandra f English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κασσάνδρα (Kassandra), possibly derived from κέκασμαι (kekasmai) meaning "to excel, to shine" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek myth Cassandra was a Trojan princess, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. She was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but when she spurned his advances he cursed her so nobody would believe her prophecies.... [more]
Cassandre f French
French variant of Cassandra.
Cassarah f English (Rare)
Recently created name intended to mean "what will be, will be". It is from the title of the 1956 song Que Sera, Sera, which was taken from the Italian phrase che sarà sarà. The phrase que sera, sera is not grammatically correct in any Romance language.
Cássia f Portuguese
Portuguese feminine form of Cassius.
Cassia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cassius.
Cassidy f & m English (Modern)
From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Caiside), which is derived from the byname Caiside. Very rare as a given name before the 1970s, it established itself in the 80s and then surged in popularity during the 90s.
Cassie f English
Diminutive of Cassandra and other names beginning with Cass.
Cassiopeia f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κασσιόπεια (Kassiopeia) or Κασσιέπεια (Kassiepeia), possibly meaning "cassia juice". In Greek myth Cassiopeia was the wife of Cepheus and the mother of Andromeda. She was changed into a constellation and placed in the northern sky after she died.
Cassy f English
Diminutive of Cassandra and other names beginning with Cass.
Cat f & m English
Diminutive of Catherine. It can also be a nickname from the English word for the animal.
Cataleya f Various
Variant of cattleya, a genus of orchids native to Central and South America, which were named for the British horticulturist William Cattley. This name was popularized by the main character from the movie Colombiana (2011).
Cătălina f Romanian
Romanian form of Katherine.
Catalina f Spanish, Corsican
Spanish and Corsican form of Katherine.
Catarina f Portuguese, Occitan, Galician
Portuguese, Occitan and Galician form of Katherine.
Cate f English (Rare)
Variant of Kate. A famous bearer is Australian actress Cate Blanchett (1969-).
Cateline f Medieval French
Medieval French form of Katherine.
Caterina f Italian, Catalan
Italian and Catalan form of Katherine.
Catharina f Dutch, Swedish
Dutch and Swedish form of Katherine.
Catherine f French, English
French form of Katherine, and also a common English variant.
Cathrin f German
German short form of Katharina.
Cathrine f Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
Scandinavian contracted form of Katherine.
Cathy f English
Diminutive of Catherine.
Cátia f Portuguese
Diminutive of Catarina.
Catia f Italian
Italian diminutive of Caterina.
Catina f Romanian (Rare)
Contracted form of Cătălina.
Cato 2 f Dutch
Diminutive of Catharina.
Catrin f Welsh, German
Welsh form of Katherine, as well as a German short form of Katharina.
Catrina f Scottish
Anglicized form of Caitrìona.
Catrine f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian contracted form of Katherine.
Catrinel f Romanian
Diminutive of Ecaterina.
Catriona f Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Caitríona (Irish) or Caitrìona (Scottish Gaelic).
Catuxa f Galician
Diminutive of Catarina.
Cayetana f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Caietanus (see Gaetano).
Cece f English
Diminutive of Cecilia and other names containing a similar sound.
Cecelia f English
Variant of Cecilia.
Cécile f French
French form of Cecilia.
Cécilia f French
French form of Cecilia.
Cecília f Portuguese, Catalan, Slovak, Hungarian
Portuguese, Catalan, Slovak and Hungarian form of Cecilia.
Cecilia f English, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Romanian, Finnish
Latinate feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, which was derived from Latin caecus meaning "blind". Saint Cecilia was a semi-legendary 2nd- or 3rd-century martyr who was sentenced to die because she refused to worship the Roman gods. After attempts to suffocate her failed, she was beheaded. She was later regarded as the patron saint of music and musicians.... [more]
Cecílie f Czech
Czech form of Cecilia.
Cecilie f Norwegian, Danish, Czech
Norwegian and Danish form of Cecilia, as well as a Czech variant of Cecílie.
Cecilija f Slovene, Croatian, Sorbian
Slovene, Croatian and Sorbian form of Cecilia.
Cecily f English
English form of Cecilia. This was the usual English form during the Middle Ages.
Cecylia f Polish
Polish form of Cecilia.
Cedar f & m English (Rare)
From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κέδρος (kedros).
Céibhfhionn f Irish Mythology
Means "fair-haired", from Old Irish ciab "locks, hair" and finn "white, blessed". In Irish legend this was the name of one of the three daughters of Bec mac Buain.
Ceinwen f Welsh
Derived from Welsh cain "good, lovely" and gwen "white, blessed". This was the name of a 5th-century Welsh saint also known as Cain or Keyne.
Celandine f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which is derived from Greek χελιδών (chelidon) meaning "swallow (bird)".
Céleste f & m French
French feminine and masculine form of Caelestis.
Celeste f & m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, English
Italian feminine and masculine form of Caelestis. It is also the Portuguese, Spanish and English feminine form.
Celestina f Spanish, Italian
Latinate feminine form of Caelestinus.
Célestine f French
French feminine form of Caelestinus.
Celestine f & m English
English form of Caelestinus. It is more commonly used as a feminine name, from the French feminine form Célestine.
Celestyna f Polish
Polish feminine form of Caelestinus.
Célia f Portuguese, French
Portuguese and French form of Celia.
Cèlia f Catalan
Catalan form of Celia.
Celia f English, Spanish
Feminine form of the Roman family name Caelius. Shakespeare used it in his play As You Like It (1599), which introduced the name to the English-speaking public at large. It is sometimes used as a short form of Cecilia.
Celina f Polish, Portuguese, German
Feminine form of Caelinus. This name can also function as a short form of Marcelina.
Celinda f English (Rare)
Probably a blend of Celia and Linda. This is also the Spanish name for a variety of shrub with white flowers, known as sweet mock-orange in English (species Philadelphus coronarius).
Céline f French
French feminine form of Caelinus. This name can also function as a short form of Marceline.
Celyn m & f Welsh
Means "holly" in Welsh. It appears briefly in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, belonging to a son of Caw, but was not typically used as a given name until the 20th century.
Cemile f Turkish
Turkish form of Jamilah.
Cemre f Turkish
From a term used in Turkish folklore referring to the warming of temperature at the end of winter, thought to occur in three stages affecting air, water, then earth.
Cennet f Turkish
Means "paradise, garden" in Turkish, derived from Arabic جنّة (jannah).
Ceren f Turkish
Means "gazelle" in Turkish (probably of Mongolian origin, originally referring to the Mongolian gazelle, the zeren).
Ceres f Roman Mythology
Derived from the Indo-European root *ker- meaning "grow, increase". In Roman mythology Ceres was the goddess of agriculture, equivalent to the Greek goddess Demeter.
Ceri f & m Welsh
Meaning uncertain. It could come from the name of the Ceri River in Ceredigion, Wales; it could be a short form of Ceridwen; it could be derived from Welsh caru meaning "to love".
Ceridwen f Welsh
Possibly from cyrrid "bent, crooked" (a derivative of Old Welsh cwrr "corner") combined with ben "woman" or gwen "white, blessed". According to the medieval Welsh legend the Tale of Taliesin (recorded by Elis Gruffyd in the 16th century) this was the name of a sorceress who created a potion that would grant wisdom to her son Morfan. The potion was instead consumed by her servant Gwion Bach, who was subsequently reborn as the renowned bard Taliesin.... [more]
Cerise f French
Means "cherry" in French.
Cerridwen f Welsh
Variant of Ceridwen.
Cerys f Welsh
Variant of Carys.