Names Sounding like *(k)

This is a list of names in which the sound is *(k).
gender
usage
sound
Blessing m & f English (African)
From the English word blessing, of Old English origin. This name is most common in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.
Blodeuwedd f Welsh Mythology
Means "face of flowers" in Welsh. According to the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, she was created out of flowers by Gwydion to be the wife of his nephew Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Originally she was named Blodeuedd meaning simply "flowers". She was eventually transformed into an owl by Gwydion after she and her lover Gronw attempted to murder Lleu, at which point he renamed her Blodeuwedd.
Blodwen f Welsh
Means "white flowers" from Welsh blodau "flowers" combined with gwen "white, blessed". This is the name of an 1878 Welsh opera by Joseph Parry.
Blossom f English
From the English word blossom, ultimately from Old English blóstm. It came into use as a rare given name in the 19th century.
Bluma f Yiddish
From Yiddish בלום (blum) meaning "flower".
Blythe f & m English (Rare)
From a surname meaning "cheerful" in Old English.
Bo 2 m & f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "wave", as well as other characters with a similar pronunciation.
Boaz m Biblical, Hebrew, Dutch, Biblical Hebrew
Means "swiftness" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the man who marries Ruth. This was also the name of one of the two pillars that stood outside Solomon's Temple (with Jachin).
Bob m English, Dutch
Short form of Robert. It arose later than Dob, Hob and Nob, which were medieval rhyming nicknames of Robert. It is borne by the character Bob Cratchit in Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol (1843). Other famous bearers include American folk musician Bob Dylan (1941-) and Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley (1945-1981).
Boel f Swedish
From Boeld, a medieval form of the Old Norse name Bóthildr (see Bodil).
Bogdan m Polish, Russian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Romanian
Means "given by God" from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and danŭ "given". This pre-Christian name was later used as a translation of Theodotus.
Boghos m Armenian
Western Armenian transcription of Poghos.
Boglárka f Hungarian
Means "buttercup (flower)" in Hungarian (genus Ranunculus), derived from the archaic word boglár meaning "ornament".
Bogumił m Polish
Means "favoured by God" from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Bogusław m Polish
Means "glory of God" from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and slava "glory". This name was borne by several dukes of Pomerania, beginning in the 12th century.
Bogusz m Polish
Diminutive of Bogusław.
Bohdan m Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Polish
Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian form of Bogdan, as well as a Polish variant.
Bohumil m Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Bogumił.
Bohumír m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Bohuslav m Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian
Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian form of Bogusław.
Bojan m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian
Derived from Old Slavic bojĭ meaning "battle". This was the name of a 9th-century Bulgarian saint and martyr, also called Enravota, a son of the Bulgarian khan Omurtag.
Bolat m Kazakh
From a Turkic word meaning "steel", ultimately from Persian.
Boldizsár m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Balthazar.
Bolek m Polish
Diminutive of Bolesław.
Boleslav m Czech
Czech form of Bolesław.
Bolesław m Polish
Derived from Slavic boľe "more, greater" and slava "glory". This was the name of kings of Poland, starting in the 11th century with the first Polish king Bolesław the Brave.
Bolívar m Spanish (Latin American)
From a surname that was taken from the Basque place name Bolibar, which was derived from bolu "mill" and ibar "riverside". A famous bearer of the surname was Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), a South American revolutionary leader, after whom the country of Bolivia is named.
Bolortsetseg f Mongolian
Means "crystal flower" in Mongolian, from болор (bolor) meaning "crystal" and цэцэг (tsetseg) meaning "flower".
Bonaventure m French, History (Ecclesiastical)
French and English form of Bonaventura. As a French name it is most common in Francophone Africa, while as an English name it is mostly used in reference to the saint.
Bonifác m Czech (Rare), Hungarian (Rare)
Czech and Hungarian form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Boniface m French, English (Rare)
From the Late Latin name Bonifatius, which meant "good fate" from bonum "good" and fatum "fate, destiny". This was the name of nine popes and also several saints, including an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon missionary to Germany (originally named Winfrið) who is now regarded as the patron saint of that country. It came into use in England during the Middle Ages, but became rare after the Protestant Reformation.
Bonifaz m German (Rare)
German form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Booker m English
From an English occupational surname meaning "maker of books". A famous bearer was Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), an African-American leader.
Boone m English
From an English surname that was either derived from Old French bon meaning "good" or from the name of the town of Bohon, France.
Borbála f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Barbara.
Boreas m Greek Mythology
Means "north wind" in Greek. Boreas was the Greek god of the north wind.
Bořek m Czech
Diminutive of Bořivoj, now used independently.
Boris m Bulgarian, Russian, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Georgian, German, French
From a Bulgar Turkic name, also recorded as Bogoris, perhaps meaning "short" or "wolf" or "snow leopard". It was borne by the 9th-century Boris I of Bulgaria, who converted his realm to Christianity and is thus regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church. To the north in Kievan Rus it was the name of another saint, a son of Vladimir the Great who was murdered with his brother Gleb in the 11th century. His mother may have been Bulgarian.... [more]
Borislav m Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian, Russian
Derived from the Slavic element borti "battle" combined with slava "glory".
Börje m Swedish
Variant of Birger.
Boróka f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Borbála. It also means "juniper" in Hungarian.
Bors m Arthurian Cycle
From French Bohort, probably from Old French behort or bohort meaning "jousting" or "jousting lance". First appearing in the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Cycle, Bors was one of Arthur's knights who quested for the Holy Grail. His father, the king of Gaunnes, was also named Bors.
Borys m Polish, Ukrainian
Polish and Ukrainian form of Boris.
Bose f Yoruba
Short form of Bosede.
Bosede f Yoruba
Variant of Abosede.
Boston m English
From the American city of Boston in Massachusetts, itself named after a town in Lincolnshire, England. The town's name is said to mean "Botwulf's stone".
Botond m Hungarian
Means "stick, mace" in Hungarian.
Botros m Arabic, Coptic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بطرس (see Butrus).
Botum f & m Khmer
From Pali paduma meaning "lotus", from Sanskrit पद्म (padma).
Boudewijn m Dutch
Dutch form of Baldwin.
Boulos m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بولس (see Bulus).
Boutros m Arabic, Coptic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بطرس (see Butrus).
Bowen m English (Modern)
From a Welsh surname, derived from ap Owain meaning "son of Owain".
Boyce m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old French bois "wood".
Boyd m English
From a Scottish surname that was possibly derived from the name of the island of Bute (Bód in Gaelic).
Božidar m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian, Sorbian
Means "divine gift" from the Slavic elements božĭjĭ "divine" and darŭ "gift". This is a Slavic translation of Theodore.
Bożydar m Polish
Polish cognate of Božidar.
Braam m Afrikaans
Afrikaans short form of Abraham.
Brad m English
Short form of Bradley, Bradford and other names beginning with Brad. A famous bearer is American actor Brad Pitt (1963-).
Brádach m Medieval Irish
Irish byname, possibly derived from bradach meaning "thieving, roguish, spirited".
Bradán m Medieval Irish
Means "salmon" in Irish. It could also be formed from Irish brad "thief" and a diminutive suffix.
Braden m English
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Bradáin, which was in turn derived from the byname Bradán. Like other similar-sounding names such as Hayden and Aidan, it and its variant Brayden became popular in America at the end of the 20th century.
Bradford m English
From an English surname that originally came from a place name that meant "broad ford" in Old English.
Braelyn f English (Modern)
A recently created name, formed using the popular name suffix lyn.
Brahma m Hinduism
Means "growth, expansion, creation" in Sanskrit. The Hindu god Brahma is the creator and director of the universe, the balance between the opposing forces of Vishnu and Shiva. After the classical period Brahma was no longer as highly revered as Vishnu and Shiva. He is often depicted with four heads and four arms.
Brais m Galician
Galician form of Blaise.
Braith m English (Australian, Rare)
Meaning uncertain, perhaps from Welsh brith, braith meaning "speckled".
Brajan m Polish (Modern)
Polish form of Brian.
Bram m English, Dutch
Short form of Abraham. This name was borne by Bram Stoker (1847-1912), the Irish author who wrote Dracula.
Brân m Welsh Mythology
Means "raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, Brân the Blessed (called Bendigeidfran) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure Llŷr. After his sister Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there). Although victorious, the British lost all except seven men with Brân being mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. He asked the survivors to cut of his head and return with it to Britain. The head continued to speak for many years until it was buried in London.
Bran 1 m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "raven" in Irish. In Irish legend Bran mac Febail was a mariner who was involved in several adventures on his quest to find the Otherworld.
Brand m English (Rare)
From a surname, a variant of Brant.
Branden m English
Variant of Brandon.
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.
Branislav m Serbian, Slovak, Czech, Slovene, Croatian, Macedonian
Form of Bronisław in several languages.
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.
Branwen f Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Means "white raven" from Old Welsh bran "raven" and gwen "white, blessed". According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi she was the daughter of Llŷr. After she was mistreated by her husband Matholwch, the king of Ireland, she managed to get a message to her brother Brân, the king of Britain. Brân launched a costly invasion to rescue her, but she died of grief shortly after her return.
Bratumił m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements bratŭ "brother" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
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.
Braylon m English (Modern)
An invented name, using the same sounds found in names such as Braden and Jalen.
Breann f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.
Breanne f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.
Brecht m Dutch
Short form of names containing brecht, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Breixo m Galician
Galician form of Veríssimo.
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.
Brendanus m Old Irish (Latinized)
Latinized form of Bréanainn (see Brendan).
Brenden m English
Variant of Brendan.
Brendon m English
Variant of Brendan.
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.
Brennus m Gaulish (Latinized)
Latinized form of a Celtic name (or title) that possibly meant either "king, prince" or "raven". Brennus was a Gallic leader of the 4th century BC who attacked and sacked Rome.
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.
Břetislav m Czech
Possibly from Slavic bręcati "to make a sound, to buzz" combined with slava "glory". This name was borne by three medieval dukes of Bohemia.
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-).
Briallen f Welsh (Rare)
Derived from Welsh briallu meaning "primrose". This is a modern Welsh name.
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.
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.
Bríd f Irish
Modern Irish form of Brighid.
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.
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.
Brigham m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally derived from place names meaning "bridge settlement" in Old English.
Brighid f Irish, Irish Mythology
Newer Irish form of Brigit (see Bridget). Since the 1948 spelling reform, this name is spelled Bríd.
Brigitta f German, Dutch, Hungarian
German, Dutch and Hungarian form of Bridget.
Brigitte f French, German, Dutch
French and German form of Bridget. A famous bearer is the French model and actress Brigitte Bardot (1934-).
Brin m Slovene
Means "juniper" in Slovene.
Brion m English
Variant of Brian.
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 southwestern England that means "the site of the bridge".
Britt f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian short form of Birgitta.
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".
Broen m Limburgish
Limburgish form of Bruno.
Brónach f Irish
Means "sad", derived from Irish brón meaning "sorrow". Saint Brónach was a 6th-century Irish mystic.
Bronislav m Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian
Czech, Slovak, Russian and Ukrainian form of Bronisław.
Bronisław m Polish
Derived from the Slavic elements borna "protection" and slava "glory". A famous Polish anthropologist, Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942), has borne this name.
Bronislovas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Bronisław.
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.
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.
Brooks m English
From an English surname, a variant of Brook.
Broos m Dutch
Dutch short form of Ambroos.
Bror m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Bróðir meaning "brother".
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.
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]
Bruno m German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Croatian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Latvian, Germanic
Derived from the Old German element brunna meaning "armour, protection" (Proto-Germanic *brunjǭ) or brun meaning "brown" (Proto-Germanic *brūnaz). Saint Bruno of Cologne was a German monk of the 11th century who founded the Carthusian Order. The surname has belonged to Giordano Bruno, a philosopher burned at the stake by the Inquisition. A modern bearer is the American singer Bruno Mars (1985-), born Peter Gene Hernandez.
Bryan m English
Variant of Brian, based on the usual spelling of the surname that is derived from the name.
Bryant m English
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Brian.
Bryce m English
Variant of Brice.
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).
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.
Bryon m English
Variant of Brian.
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.
Budur f Arabic
Means "full moons" in Arabic (a plural form of Badr).
Bulan f Indonesian
Means "moon" (or "month") in Indonesian.
Bulus m Arabic
Arabic form of Paul.
Bulut m Turkish
Means "cloud" in Turkish.
Burak m Turkish
From Arabic براق (Burāq), the name of the legendary creature that, according to Islamic tradition, transported the Prophet Muhammad. Its name is derived from Arabic برق (barq) meaning "lightning".
Burçin f & m Turkish
Means "hind, doe" in Turkish.
Burhan m Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian
Means "proof" in Arabic.
Burhan ad-Din m Arabic
Means "proof of religion", derived from Arabic برهان (burhān) meaning "proof" and دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith".
Burhan al-Din m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic برهان الدين (see Burhan ad-Din).
Burhanuddin m Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Dari Persian
Alternate transcription of Arabic برهان الدين (see Burhan ad-Din), as well as the Indonesian, Malay and Dari Persian form.
Burke m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English burg meaning "fortress".
Burkhard m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements burg "fortress" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy", or perhaps from the Old English cognate Burgheard. Saint Burkhard was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon missionary to Germany (a companion of Boniface) who became the first bishop of Würzburg.
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 American silent movie star Buster Keaton (1895-1966), whose real first name was Joseph.
Butch m English
From the English slang word butch meaning "manly, masculine", itself from the word butcher. This is typically a nickname. A famous bearer was the American outlaw Butch Cassidy (1866-1908), born Robert LeRoy Parker.
Butrus m Arabic, Coptic
Arabic form of Peter.
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).
Buz m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
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.
Cadmus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κάδμος (Kadmos), of uncertain meaning. In Greek mythology Cadmus was the son of the Phoenician king Agenor. He was sent by his father to rescue his sister Europa, who had been abducted by Zeus, although he did not succeed in retrieving her. According to legend, Cadmus founded the city of Thebes and introduced the alphabet to Greece.
Cadwgan m Welsh (Rare)
From Old Welsh Catguocaun (and many other spellings) meaning "glory in battle", from cat "battle" and guocaun "glory, honour". It appears briefly in the medieval Welsh tale The Dream of Rhonabwy.
Caecilius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin masculine form of Cecilia. Saint Caecilius was a 1st-century missionary to Granada, Spain. It was also part of the full name of Saint Cyprian, Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus.
Caedmon m History (Ecclesiastical)
Meaning unknown, though the first element is likely connected to Brythonic kad meaning "battle". Saint Caedmon was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon poet who supposedly received his poetic inspiration from a dream. Our only knowledge of him is through the 8th-century writings of the historian Bede.
Caelan m & f English
Anglicized form of Caolán (masculine) or a variant of Kaylyn (feminine).
Caelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin caelum meaning "heaven".
Caesar m Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen that possibly meant "hairy", from Latin caesaries "hair". Julius Caesar and his adopted son Julius Caesar Octavianus (commonly known as Augustus) were both rulers of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. Caesar was used as a title by the emperors that came after them.
Cəfər m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Jafar.
Cahya m & f Indonesian
Variant of Cahaya.
Cahyo m Javanese
Javanese variant form of Cahaya.
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.
Cailean m Scottish Gaelic
Means "whelp, young dog" in Scottish Gaelic. This name was borne by Cailean Mór, a 13th-century Scottish lord and ancestor of Clan Campbell.
Cailin f English (Rare)
Variant of Kaylyn. It also coincides with the Irish word cailín meaning "girl".
Cain m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name קָיִן (Qayin) possibly meaning "acquired", from the root קָנָה (qana) meaning "to acquire, to purchase". 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 used in some versions of the Bible.
Caishen m Chinese Mythology
Means "god of wealth", from Chinese (cái) meaning "wealth, riches" and (shén) meaning "god". This is the name of a Chinese god of wealth.
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.
Caius m Ancient Roman
Roman variant of Gaius.
Cal m English
Short form of Calvin and other names beginning with Cal.
Calbhach m Medieval Irish
Means "bald" in Irish.
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 כֹּל (kol) 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]
Caliban m Literature
Created by Shakespeare for the monstrous son of Sycorax in his play The Tempest (1611). It has been suggested that it is a variant or anagram of the Spanish word caníbal "cannibal".
Călin m Romanian
From Romanian călin meaning "viburnum tree" (of Slavic origin).
Calixte m French
French form of Calixtus.
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.
Calle m Swedish
Swedish diminutive of Carl.
Callistus m Late Roman
Late Latin name that was derived from the Greek name Κάλλιστος (Kallistos) meaning "most beautiful". This was the name of three popes (also known as Callixtus), including the 3rd-century Callistus I who is regarded as a saint.
Callum m Scottish
Variant of Calum.
Calum m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Columba.
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 1 f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (cam) meaning "orange (fruit)".
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).
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.
Camillus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen, which is probably of Etruscan origin and unknown meaning. It is probably not related to Latin camillus "a youth employed in religious services". This name was borne by the 16th-century Italian monk Saint Camillus de Lellis.
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.
Can m Turkish
Means "soul, life" or by extension "darling, sweetheart" in Turkish, from Persian جان (jān).
Canaan m Biblical
From כְּנַעַן (Kenaʿan), 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.
Cande f & m Spanish
Short form of Candelaria or Candelario.
Candelas f Spanish
Diminutive of Candelaria.
Candice f English
Variant of Candace.
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.
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".
Canute m History
Anglicized form of Knut.
Caoilfhionn f Irish
Derived from the Old Irish elements cáel "slender" and finn "white, blessed". This was the name of several Irish saints.
Caoimhín m Irish
Irish form of Kevin.
Caolán m Irish
From Irish caol meaning "slender" combined with the diminutive suffix -án.
Caomhán m Irish (Rare)
From Old Irish Cóemán, derived from cóem "dear, beloved, gentle" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of several early Irish saints.
Caprice f English
From the English word meaning "impulse", ultimately (via French) from Italian capriccio.
Capucine f French
Means "nasturtium" in French. This was the stage name of the French actress and model Capucine (1928-1990).
Caradog m Welsh, Arthurian Cycle
From the Old Welsh name Caratauc, a Welsh form of Caratācos. This is the name of several figures in Welsh history and legend, including an 8th-century king of Gwynedd, a 12th-century saint, and a son of Brân the Blessed. In Arthurian romance Caradog is a Knight of the Round Table. He first appears in Welsh poems, with his story expanded by French authors such as Chrétien de Troyes.
Carel m Dutch
Dutch form of Charles.
Caren f English
Variant of Karen 1.
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.
Carine f French
French form of Carina 1. It can also function as a short form of Catherine, via Swedish Karin.
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.
Carlene f English
Feminine diminutive of Carl.
Carles m Catalan
Catalan form of Charles.
Carlijn f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Carel.
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.
Carlos m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles.
Carlton m English
Variant of Charlton.
Carlyle m English
Variant of Carlisle.
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.
Carmen f Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, 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).
Carmine m Italian
Italian masculine form of Carmen.
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".
Carole f French
French feminine form of Carolus.
Carolien f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Carolus.
Carolin f German
German 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.
Carroll m Irish
Anglicized form of Cearbhall. A famous bearer of the surname was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a British author known for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
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-).
Carthach m Old Irish
Means "loving" in Irish. This was the name of two Irish saints, from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Carver m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "wood carver".
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.
Cas m Dutch
Short form of Casper.
Case m English (Modern)
Short form of Casey.
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)
From the English surname Cason. It enjoyed a modest level of use in the United States in the early 21st century, due to its similarity to other popular names such as Mason and Jason.
Casper m Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Dutch and Scandinavian form of Jasper. This is the name of a friendly ghost in an American series of cartoons and comic books (beginning 1945).
Caspian m Literature
Used by author C. S. Lewis for a character in his Chronicles of Narnia series, first appearing in 1950. Prince Caspian first appears in the fourth book, where he is the rightful king of Narnia driven into exile by his evil uncle Miraz. Lewis probably based the name on the Caspian Sea, which was named for the city of Qazvin, which was itself named for the ancient Cas tribe.
Cass f & m English
Short form of Cassandra, Cassidy and other names beginning with Cass.
Cassian m Ancient Roman (Anglicized)
From the Roman family name Cassianus, which was derived from Cassius. This was the name of several saints, including a 3rd-century martyr from Tangier who is the patron saint of stenographers and a 5th-century mystic who founded a monastery in Marseille.
Cassius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was possibly derived from Latin cassus meaning "empty, vain". This name was borne by several early saints. In modern times, it was the original first name of boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016), who was named after his father Cassius Clay, who was himself named after the American abolitionist Cassius Clay (1810-1903).