English Names

Brandee f English
Variant of Brandy.

Branden m English
Variant of Brandon.

Brandi f English
Variant of Brandy.

Brandie f English
Variant of Brandy.

Brandon m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "hill covered with broom" in Old English.... [more]

Brandt m English
From a surname, a variant of Brant.

Brandy f English
From the English word brandy for the alcoholic drink. It is ultimately from Dutch brandewijn "burnt wine". It has been in use as a given name since the 1960s.

Brannon m English
From an Irish surname, a variant of Brennan.

Branson m English (Modern)
From an English surname that meant "son of Brandr".

Brant m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old Norse given name Brandr. This is also the name for a variety of wild geese.

Brantley m English (Modern)
From a surname, an Americanized form of the German surname Brändle, ultimately from Old High German brant "fire".

Braxton m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "Bracca's town" in Old English. In some cases it is given in honour of the Confederate general Braxton Bragg (1817-1876).

Brayden m English (Modern)
Variant of Braden. This is currently the more popular spelling of the name.

Braylen m English (Modern)
Variant of Braylon.

Braylon m English (Modern)
An invented name, using the same sounds found in names such as Braden and Jalen.

Breana f English (Modern)
Variant of Briana.

Breann f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.

Breanna f English
Variant of Briana.

Breanne f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.

Bree f English
Anglicized form of Brígh. It can also be a short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.

Brenda f English
Possibly a feminine form of the Old Norse name Brandr, meaning "fire, torch, sword", which was brought to Britain in the Middle Ages. This name is sometimes used as a feminine form of Brendan.

Brendan m Irish, English, Breton
From Brendanus, the Latinized form of the Old Irish name Bréanainn, which was derived from Old Welsh breenhin meaning "king, prince". Saint Brendan was a 6th-century Irish abbot who, according to legend, crossed the Atlantic and reached North America with 17 other monks.

Brenden m English
Variant of Brendan.

Brendon m English
Variant of Brendan.

Brenna f English
Possibly a variant of Brenda or a feminine form of Brennan.

Brennan m English
From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Braonáin) that was derived from the byname Braonán, itself from Irish braon meaning "rain, moisture, drop" combined with a diminutive suffix. As a given name, it has been used since the 1960s as an alternative to Brendan or Brandon, though it has not been as popular as them.

Brent m English
From an English surname, originally taken from various place names, perhaps derived from a Celtic word meaning "hill".

Brenton m English
From a surname that was derived from an English place name meaning "Bryni's town". Bryni was an Old English name meaning "fire".

Bret m English
Variant of Brett.

Brett m English
From a Middle English surname meaning "a Breton", referring to an inhabitant of Brittany. A famous bearer is the American football quarterback Brett Favre (1969-).

Bria f English
Short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.

Brian m English, Irish, Old Irish
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *brixs "hill, high" (Old Irish brií) or the related *brigā "might, power" (Old Irish briíg). It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf, though his forces were decisively victorious. This name was common in Ireland after his time, and it was introduced to northern England by Norse-Gael settlers. It was also used in Brittany, and was brought to England by Bretons in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Though it eventually became rare in the English-speaking world, it was strongly revived in the 20th century, becoming a top-ten name for boys in most regions.

Briana f English
Feminine form of Brian. It appears in Edmund Spenser's epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590). The name was not commonly used until the 1970s, when it rapidly became popular in the United States.

Brianna f English
Variant of Briana. This is currently the more popular spelling of the name.

Brianne f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.

Briar m & f English (Modern)
From the English word for the thorny plant.

Brice m French, English
From the name Bricius, which was probably a Latinized form of a Gaulish name meaning "speckled". This was the name of a 5th-century saint, a disciple of Saint Martin of Tours.

Bridger m English (Modern)
From an English surname that originally indicated a person who lived near or worked on a bridge.

Bridget f Irish, English
Anglicized form of the Irish name Brighid, Old Irish Brigit, from old Celtic *Brigantī meaning "the exalted one". In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god Dagda. In the 5th century it was borne by Saint Brigid, the founder of a monastery at Kildare and a patron saint of Ireland. Because of the saint, the name was considered sacred in Ireland, and it did not come into general use there until the 17th century. In the form Birgitta this name has been common in Scandinavia, made popular by the 14th-century Saint Birgitta of Sweden, patron saint of Europe.

Bridgette f English
Variant of Bridget.

Brie f English
Short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.

Briella f English (Modern)
Short form of Gabriella.

Brielle f English (Modern)
Short form of Gabrielle. This is also the name of towns in the Netherlands and New Jersey, though their names derive from a different source.

Briggs m English (Modern)
From a surname that was derived from Middle English brigge, Old English brycg meaning "bridge".

Brigham m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally derived from place names meaning "bridge settlement" in Old English.

Briley f English (Modern)
Modern name, probably based on the sounds found in other names such as Bryson and Riley. It also coincides with the surname Briley.

Brinley f English (Modern)
Combination of Bryn and the popular phonetic suffix lee. It also coincides with an English surname, which was derived from the name of a town meaning "burned clearing" in Old English.

Brion m English
Variant of Brian.

Briony f English (Rare)
Variant of Bryony.

Briscoe m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" in Old Norse.

Bristol f English (Modern)
From the name of the city in southwestern England that means "the site of the bridge".

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-).

Brittani f English (Modern)
Variant of Brittany.

Brittania f English (Rare)
Variant of Britannia.

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]

Brittney f English (Modern)
Variant of Brittany.

Brittni f English (Modern)
Variant of Brittany.

Brittny f English (Modern)
Variant of Brittany.

Britton m English
Derived from a Middle English surname meaning "a Briton" (a Celt of England) or "a Breton" (an inhabitant of Brittany). Both ethnonyms are related to the place name Britain.

Brock m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English brocc meaning "badger".

Brodie m English (Modern)
Variant of Brody.

Brody m English
From a Scottish surname that was originally derived from a place in Moray, Scotland. It probably means "ditch, mire" in Gaelic.

Bronson m English (Modern)
From an English surname meaning "son of the brown one".

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".

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.

Brooklynn f English (Modern)
Variant of Brooklyn.

Brooks m English
From an English surname, a variant of Brook.

Bruce m Scottish, English
From a Scottish surname, of Norman origin, which probably originally referred to the town of Brix in France. The surname was borne by Robert the Bruce, a Scottish hero of the 14th century who achieved independence from England and became the king of Scotland. It has been in use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, becoming especially popular in the 1940s and 50s. Notable bearers include Chinese-American actor Bruce Lee (1940-1973), American musician Bruce Springsteen (1949-), and American actor Bruce Willis (1955-). It is also the real name of the comic book superheroes Batman (Bruce Wayne), created 1939, and the Hulk (Bruce Banner), created 1962.

Bryan m English
Variant of Brian, based on the usual spelling of the surname that is derived from the name.

Bryana f English (Modern)
Variant of Briana.

Bryanna f English (Modern)
Variant of Briana.

Bryanne f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Brian.

Bryant m English
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Brian.

Bryce m English
Variant of Brice.

Brycen m English (Modern)
Variant of Bryson.

Brylee f English (Modern)
Variant of Briley.

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).

Brynlee f English (Modern)
Variant of Brinley.

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.

Brynne f English (Rare)
Variant of Brynn.

Bryon m English
Variant of Brian.

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".

Bryson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Brice". Starting in the 1970s this name began steadily growing in popularity, likely because it features the same popular sounds found in other names such as Brice and Tyson.

Buck m English
From an English nickname meaning simply "buck, male deer", ultimately from Old English bucc.

Bud m English
Short form of Buddy.

Buddy m English
From the English word meaning "friend". It probably originated as a nursery form of the word brother.

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).

Bugsy m English
From a nickname derived from the slang term bugsy meaning "crazy, unstable". It was notably borne by the American gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (1906-1947).

Bunny f English
Diminutive of Berenice.

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).

Burke m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English burg meaning "fortress".

Burt m English
Short form of Burton.

Burton m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "fortified town" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was Richard Burton (1821-1890), an explorer of Africa and Asia.

Buster m English
Originally a nickname denoting a person who broke things, from the word bust, a dialectal variant of burst. A famous bearer was the silent movie star Buster Keaton (1895-1966).

Buz m Biblical
Means "contempt" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of Abraham's brother Nahor in the Old Testament.

Buzz m English
From a nickname derived from the onomatopoeic word buzz meaning "buzz, hum, murmur". A notable bearer is American astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (1930-), one of the first people to walk on the moon. The character Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story (1995) was named after Aldrin.

Byrne m English (Rare)
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Broin, which was derived from the given name Bran 1.

Byron m English
From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning "place of the cow sheds" in Old English. This was the surname of the romantic poet Lord Byron (1788-1824), the writer of Don Juan and many other works.

Bysshe m English (Rare)
From an English surname, a variant of the surname Bush, which originally indicated a person who lived near a bush. This was the middle name of the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822).

Cade m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a nickname meaning "round" in Old English.

Caden m English (Modern)
Sometimes explained as deriving from the Irish surname Caden, which is an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac Cadáin, itself from the given name Cadán (of unknown meaning). In actuality, the popularity of this name in America beginning in the 1990s is due to its sound — it shares its fashionable den suffix sound with other trendy names like Hayden, Aidan and Braden.

Cadence f English (Modern)
From an English word meaning "rhythm, flow". It has been in use only since the 20th century.

Caelan m English
Anglicized form of Caolán.

Caelie f English (Rare)
Variant of Kaylee.

Caetlin f English (Rare)
Variant of Caitlin.

Caiaphas m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of Greek Καϊάφας (Kaiaphas), probably of Aramaic origin. In the New Testament this is the name of the Jewish high priest who condemns Jesus.

Caiden m English (Modern)
Variant of Caden.

Caileigh f English (Rare)
Variant of Kayleigh.

Cailin f English (Rare)
Variant of Kaylyn. It also coincides with the Irish word cailín meaning "girl".

Cailyn f English (Modern)
Variant of Kaylyn.

Cain m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Means "acquired" in Hebrew. In Genesis in the Old Testament Cain is the first son of Adam and Eve. He killed his brother Abel after God accepted Abel's offering of meat instead of his offering of plant-based foods. After this Cain was banished to be a wanderer.

Cainan m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Variant of Kenan 1.

Cairo m English (Modern)
From the name of the city in Egypt, called القاهرة (al-Qahirah) in Arabic, meaning "the victorious".

Caitlin f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Caitlín.

Caitlyn f English (Modern)
Variant of Caitlin.

Cal m English
Short form of Calvin and other names beginning with Cal.

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.

Cale m English
Short form of Caleb.

Caleb m English, Biblical
Most likely related to Hebrew כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning "dog". An alternate theory connects it to Hebrew כָּל (kal) meaning "whole, all of" and לֵב (lev) meaning "heart". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.... [more]

Caleigh f English (Modern)
Variant of Kayleigh or Callie.

Cali 1 f English (Modern)
Variant of Callie.

Calista f English, Portuguese (Rare), Spanish (Rare)
Feminine form of Callistus. As an English name it might also be a variant of Kallisto.

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".

Callahan m English
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Ceallacháin, itself from the given name Cellachán.

Callan m English
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Cathaláin, derived from the given name Cathalán.

Calleigh f English (Modern)
Variant of Callie.

Callie f English
Diminutive of Caroline, or sometimes of names beginning with Cal.

Callista f English (Rare)
Variant of Calista.

Calvin m English
Derived from the French surname Cauvin, which was derived from chauve meaning "bald". The surname was borne by Jean Cauvin (1509-1564), a theologian from France who was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. His surname was Latinized as Calvinus (based on Latin calvus "bald") and he is known as John Calvin in English. It has been used as a given name in his honour since the 19th century.... [more]

Cam 2 m & f English
Short form of Cameron.

Camden m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name, perhaps meaning "enclosed valley" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the English historian William Camden (1551-1623).

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.

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".

Camron m English (Modern)
Variant of Cameron.

Camryn f & m English (Modern)
Variant (typically feminine) of Cameron.

Canaan m Biblical
From כְּנַעַן (Kena'an), the Hebrew name of the ancient region of Canaan, which was possibly derived from a root meaning "low, humble". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Ham. He is said to be the ancestor and namesake of the Canaanite peoples.

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.

Candi f English
Variant of Candy.

Candice f English
Variant of Candace.

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).

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.

Cannon m English
From an English surname, which was derived from Middle English canon, referring to a church official or servant who worked in a clergy house. This name may also be used in reference to the vocabulary word for the large gun, derived from Italian cannone "large tube", from Latin canna "cane, reed".

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.

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.

Careen f English (Rare)
Variant of Carreen.

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.

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.

Caris f English (Rare)
Variant of Carys.

Carissa f English
Variant of Charissa.

Carl m German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English
German and Scandinavian variant of Karl (see Charles). Noteworthy bearers of the name include the Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), who founded modern taxonomy, the German mathematician Carl Gauss (1777-1855), who made contributions to number theory and algebra as well as physics and astronomy, and the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961), who founded analytical psychology. It was imported to America in the 19th century by German immigrants.

Carla f Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, English, German, Dutch
Feminine form of Carlo, Carlos or Carl.

Carlene f English
Feminine diminutive of Carl.

Carleton m English
Variant of Charlton.

Carley f English (Modern)
Variant of Carly.

Carli f English (Modern)
Variant of Carly.

Carlie f English
Variant of Carly.

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.

Carlton m English
Variant of Charlton.

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.

Carlyle m English
Variant of Carlisle.

Carlyn f English
Contracted variant of Caroline.

Carmel f & m 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. As a Jewish name it is unisex.

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).

Carmi m Biblical
Means "vine" in Hebrew. This was the name of a son of Reuben in the Old Testament.

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".

Carolann f English
Combination of Carol 1 and Ann.

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.

Caroline f French, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
French feminine form of Carolus.

Carolyn f English
Variant of Caroline.

Carpus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latin form of the Greek name Καρπός (Karpos), which meant "fruit, profits". The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament in the second epistle of Timothy.

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).

Carter m English
From an English surname that meant "one who uses a cart". A famous bearer of the surname is former American president Jimmy Carter (1924-).

Carver m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "wood carver".

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.

Case m English (Modern)
Short form of Casey.

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.

Cash m English
From an English occupational surname for a box maker, derived from Norman French casse meaning "case", from Latin capsa. It coincides with the English word cash meaning "money" (derived from the same French and Latin roots). A famous bearer of the surname was American musician Johnny Cash (1932-2003).

Casimir m English, French
English form of the Polish name Kazimierz, derived from the Slavic element kaziti "to destroy" combined with mirŭ "peace, world". Four kings of Poland have borne this name, including Casimir III the Great, who greatly strengthened the Polish state in the 14th century. It was also borne Saint Casimir, a 15th-century Polish prince and a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania. The name was imported into Western Europe via Germany, where it was borne by some royalty.

Cason m English (Modern)
An invented name, based on the sound of names such as Mason and Jason. It also coincides with the English surname Cason.

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]

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.

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.

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.

Cate f English (Rare)
Variant of Kate. A famous bearer is Australian actress Cate Blanchett (1969-).

Catharine f English
Variant of Katherine.

Catherin f English (Rare)
Variant of Katherine.

Catherina f English (Rare)
Variant of Katherine.

Catherine f French, English
French form of Katherine, and also a common English variant.

Cathie f English
Diminutive of Catherine.

Cathleen f Irish, English
Variant of Kathleen.

Cathryn f English
Variant of Katherine.

Cathy f English
Diminutive of Catherine.

Cavan m English
Either from the name of the Irish county, which is derived from Irish cabhán "hollow", or else from the Irish surname Cavan.

Cayden m English (Modern)
Variant of Caden.

Cayla f English (Modern)
Variant of Kayla.

Caylee f English (Modern)
Variant of Kaylee.

Cayley f English (Rare)
Variant of Kaylee.

Cayson m English (Modern)
Variant of Cason.

Ceara f English (Rare)
Variant of Ciara 2.

Cearra f English (Rare)
Variant of Ciara 2.

Cece f English
Diminutive of Cecilia and other names containing a similar sound.

Cecelia f English
Variant of Cecilia.

Cecil m English
From the Roman name Caecilius (see Cecilia). This was the name of a 3rd-century saint, a companion of Saint Cyprian. Though it was in use during the Middle Ages in England, it did not become common until the 19th century when it was given in honour of the noble Cecil family, who had been prominent since the 16th century. Their surname was derived from the Welsh given name Seisyll, which was derived from the Roman name Sextilius, a derivative of Sextus.

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]

Cecily f English
English form of Cecilia. This was the usual English form during the Middle Ages.

Cedar f & m English (Rare)
From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κέδρος (kedros).

Cedric m English
Invented by Walter Scott for a character in his novel Ivanhoe (1819). Apparently he based it on the actual name Cerdic, the name of the semi-legendary founder of the kingdom of Wessex in the 6th century. The meaning of Cerdic is uncertain, but it does not appear to be Old English in origin. It could be connected to the Brythonic name Caratācos. The name was also used by Frances Hodgson Burnett for the main character in her novel Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886).

Celandine f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which is derived from Greek χελιδών (chelidon) meaning "swallow (bird)".

Celeste f & m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, English
Italian feminine and masculine form of Caelestis. It is also the Portuguese, Spanish and English feminine form.

Celestine f & m English
English form of Caelestinus. It is more commonly used as a feminine name, from the French feminine form Célestine.

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.

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).

Celine f German, English
Variant of Céline.

Cephas m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Means "rock" in Aramaic. The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament Cephas is translated into Greek Πέτρος (Petros) (in English Peter).

Chace m English (Modern)
Variant of Chase.

Chad m English
From the Old English name Ceadda, which is of unknown meaning, possibly based on Old Welsh cat "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century English saint. Borne primarily by Catholics, it was a rare name until the 1960s when it started to become more common amongst the general population. This is also the name of a country in Africa, though it originates from a different source.

Chadwick m English
From a surname that was derived from the name of towns in England, meaning "settlement belonging to Chad" in Old English.

Chalice f English (Rare)
Means simply "chalice, goblet" from the English word, derived from Latin calix.

Chance m English
Originally a diminutive of Chauncey. It is now usually given in reference to the English word chance meaning "luck, fortune" (ultimately derived from Latin cadens "falling").

Chandler m & f English
From an occupational surname that meant "candle seller" or "candle maker" in Middle English, ultimately from Latin candela via Old French. It surged in popularity after the 1994 debut of the American sitcom Friends, featuring a character by this name.

Chanel f English
From a French surname that meant either "channel", indicating a person who lived near a channel of water, or "jug, jar, bottle", indicating a manufacturer of jugs. It has been used as an American given name since 1970s, influenced by the Chanel brand name (a line of women's clothing and perfume), which was named for French fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883-1971).

Chanelle f English (Modern)
Variant of Chanel.

Channing m & f English (Modern)
From an English surname of uncertain origin.

Chantal f French, English, Dutch
From a French surname that was derived from a place name meaning "stony". It was originally given in honour of Saint Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal, the founder of the Visitation Order in the 17th century. It has become associated with French chant "song".

Chanté f English (Modern)
Means "sung" in French.

Chantel f English
Variant of Chantal.

Chantelle f English
Variant of Chantal.

Charisma f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "personal magnetism", ultimately derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness".

Charissa f English, Dutch
Elaborated form of Charis. Edmund Spencer used it in his epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590).

Charisse f English
From a French surname of unknown meaning. It was used as a given name in honour of American actress and dancer Cyd Charisse (1921-2008).

Charity f English
From the English word charity, ultimately derived from Late Latin caritas "generous love", from Latin carus "dear, beloved". Caritas was in use as a Roman Christian name. The English name Charity came into use among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. It is currently most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.

Charla f English
Feminine form of Charles.

Charlee f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Charlie.

Charleen f English
Variant of Charlene.

Charleigh f English (Modern)
Strictly feminine variant of Charlie.

Charlene f English
Feminine diminutive of Charles.

Charles m English, French
French and English form of Carolus, the Latin form of the Germanic name Karl, which was derived from a word meaning "man" (Proto-Germanic *karlaz). However, an alternative theory states that it is derived from the common Germanic name element *harjaz meaning "army".... [more]

Charley m & f English
Diminutive or feminine form of Charles.

Charli f English
Variant of Charlie, typically feminine.

Charlie m & f English
Diminutive or feminine form of Charles. A famous bearer was the British comic actor Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977). It is also borne by Charlie Brown, the main character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz.

Charlotte f French, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
French feminine diminutive of Charles. It was introduced to Britain in the 17th century. It was the name of a German-born 18th-century queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland. Another notable bearer was Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855), the eldest of the three Brontë sisters and the author of Jane Eyre and Villette. A famous fictional bearer is the spider in the children's novel Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White.... [more]

Charlton m English
From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning "settlement of free men" in Old English.

Charly m & f English
Variant of Charlie.

Charmaine f English
Meaning unknown, perhaps a combination of Charmian or the English word charm with the aine suffix from Lorraine. It was (first?) used for a character in the play What Price Glory (1924), which was made into a popular movie in 1926.

Charnette f English (Rare)
Probably an invented name.

Chas m English
Diminutive of Charles.

Chase m English
From an English surname meaning "chase, hunt" in Middle English, originally a nickname for a huntsman.

Chasity f English
Variant of Chastity.

Chastity f English
From the English word chastity, which is ultimately from Latin castus "pure". It was borne by the child of Sonny Bono and Cher, which probably led to the name's increase in popularity during the 1970s.

Chauncey m English
From a Norman surname of unknown meaning. It was used as a given name in America in honour of Harvard president Charles Chauncey (1592-1672).

Chaz m English
Diminutive of Charles.

Chelle f English
Diminutive of Michelle.

Chelsea f English
From the name of a district in London, originally derived from Old English and meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone". It has been in general use as an English given name since the 1970s.

Chelsey f English (Modern)
Variant of Chelsea.

Chelsie f English (Modern)
Variant of Chelsea.

Chenaniah m Biblical
Variant of Kenaniah used in several translations of the Old Testament.

Cher f English
Short form of Cheryl. In the case of the American musician Cher (1946-), it is short for her real name Cherilyn.

Cherette f English (Rare)
Diminutive of Cherie.

Cheri f English
Variant of Cherie.

Cherice f English (Rare)
Variant of Charisse.

Cherie f English
Derived from French chérie meaning "darling". In America, Cherie came into use shortly after the variant Sherry, and has not been as common.

Cherilyn f English
Combination of Cheryl and the popular name suffix lyn.

Cherise f English
Variant of Charisse.

Cherish f English
From the English word meaning "to treasure".

Cherokee f & m English (Rare)
Probably derived from the Creek word tciloki meaning "people of a different speech". This is the name of a Native American people who live in the east of North America.

Cherry f English
Simply means "cherry" from the name of the fruit. It can also be a diminutive of Charity. It has been in use since the late 19th century.

Cherryl f English
Variant of Cheryl.

Cheryl f English
Elaboration of Cherie, perhaps influenced by Beryl. This name was very rare before the 20th century. It seems to have been popularized in America by the actress Cheryl Walker (1918-1971), who had a prominent role in the 1943 movie Stage Door Canteen. After peaking in the 1950s the name has subsequently faded from the popularity charts.

Chesley m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning "camp meadow" in Old English.

Chester m English
From an English surname that originally belonged to a person who came from Chester, an old Roman settlement in Britain. The name of the settlement came from Latin castrum "camp, fortress".

Chet m English
Short form of Chester.

Chevonne f English (Rare)
Variant of Shavonne.

Cheyanne f English (Modern)
Variant of Cheyenne probably influenced by the name Anne 1.

Cheyenne f English
Derived from the Lakota word šahiyena meaning "red speakers". This is the name of a Native American people of the Great Plains. The name was supposedly given to the Cheyenne by the Lakota because their language was unrelated to their own. As a given name, it has been in use since the 1950s.