Names Containing c

This is a list of names in which a substring is c.
gender
usage
contains
Abacuc m Biblical Latin
Biblical Latin form of Habakkuk.
Abimelech m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "my father is king" in Hebrew, derived from the roots אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) meaning "king". This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament including a king of Gerar who takes Abraham's wife Sarah, but is forced by God to give her back.
Aboubacar m Western African
Form of Abu Bakr used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.
Aca m Serbian, Macedonian
Serbian and Macedonian diminutive of Aleksandar.
Acacia f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of tree, ultimately derived from Greek ἀκή (ake) meaning "thorn, point".
Acantha f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἄκανθα (Akantha), which meant "thorn, prickle". In Greek legend she was a nymph loved by Apollo.
Ace 1 m English
From the English word meaning "highest rank". More commonly a nickname, it is occasionally used as a given name.
Ace 2 m Macedonian
Macedonian diminutive of Aleksandar.
Achaab m Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Ahab.
Achab m Biblical Latin
Latin form of Ahab used in some versions of the Vulgate.
Achaemenes m Old Persian (Latinized)
Latin form of Ἀχαιμένης (Achaimenes), the Greek form of the Old Persian name 𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁 (Haxamaniš), derived from Old Iranian *haxa "friend, companion, ally" and *manah "mind, intellect, thought". This was the name of the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty (7th century BC).
Achaicus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀχαϊκός (Achaikos), which referred to the region in Greece called Ἀχαΐα (Achaia), situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. In the New Testament this is the name of a Corinthian Christian who aids Saint Paul.
Achan m Biblical
Possibly a variation of the Hebrew word עֲכָר (ʿaḵar) meaning "trouble". In the Old Testament, Achan is stoned to death because he steals forbidden items during the assault on Jericho.
Achard m Old Norman
Medieval Norman form of Ekkehard.
'Achashwerosh m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ahasuerus.
'Ach'av m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ahab.
Acheim m Biblical Greek
Form of Achim 2 in the Greek New Testament.
Acheloios m Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of Achelous.
Achelous m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἀχελώιος (Acheloios), which is of unknown meaning, possibly of Semitic origin. This was the name of a Greek god of water and rivers, in particular the Achelous River in western Greece. He fought with (and was defeated by) Herakles for the hand of Deianeira.
Achieng f Luo
Feminine form of Ochieng.
Achille m French, Italian
French and Italian form of Achilles.
Achilleas m Greek
Modern Greek form of Achilles.
Achilles m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Achilleus), which is of unknown meaning, perhaps derived from Greek ἄχος (achos) meaning "pain" or else from the name of the Achelous River. This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer's Iliad. The bravest of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was eventually killed by an arrow to his heel, the only vulnerable part of his body.... [more]
Achim 1 m German
German short form of Joachim.
Achim 2 m Biblical
Possibly from a Hebrew name meaning "he will establish". In the New Testament this name is listed as an ancestor of Jesus.
Achlys f Greek Mythology
Means "mist, darkness" in Greek. According to a poem by Hesiod, she was one of the figures portrayed on the shield of Herakles. She is described as a wraithlike woman personifying death and sorrow.
Achsah f Biblical
Means "anklet, bangle" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of Caleb.
Acke m Swedish
Swedish short form of Axel.
Aco m Macedonian, Serbian
Macedonian and Serbian diminutive of Aleksandar.
Actor m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἄκτωρ (Aktor) meaning "leader", a derivative of ἄγω (ago) meaning "to lead". This is the name of many characters in Greek mythology.
Adoración f Spanish
Means "adoration" in Spanish. This name refers to the event that is known in Christian tradition as the Adoration of the Magi, which is when the three Magi presented gifts to the infant Jesus and worshipped him.
Ælfric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and ric "ruler, king" (making it a cognate of Alberich). This was the name of a 10th-century archbishop of Canterbury, sometimes considered a saint.
Æsc m Anglo-Saxon
Means "ash tree" in Old English. This was the nickname of a 5th-century king of Kent, whose birth name was Oeric.
Aeschylus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Αἰσχύλος (Aischylos), derived from αἶσχος (aischos) meaning "shame". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian playwright, known for his tragedies.
Æðelric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and ric "ruler, king". This was the name of several early Anglo-Saxon kings.
Affraic f Old Irish
Old Irish form of Aifric.
África f Spanish
Spanish form of Africa 1. It is usually taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de África, the patron saint of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.
Àfrica f Catalan
Catalan form of Africa 1.
Africa 1 f African American (Rare)
From the name of the continent of Africa, which is of Latin origin, possibly from the Afri people who lived near Carthage in North Africa. This rare name is used most often by African-American parents.
Africa 2 f Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Aifric.
Africanus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from the place name Africa, which in Roman times referred only to North Africa. This was the agnomen of the 3rd-century BC Roman general Scipio Africanus, who was honoured with it after his victory over Carthage in the Second Punic War. His descendants used it as a cognomen.
Agathocles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Ἀγαθοκλῆς (Agathokles), derived from the elements ἀγαθός (agathos) meaning "good" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This name was borne by a 2nd-century BC king of Bactria.
Aïcha f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Form of Aisha used in North Africa and other French-influenced regions of the continent.
Aïchatou f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.
Aifric f Irish
From Old Irish Affraic, possibly from Afraicc, the Old Irish name of the continent of Africa (see Africa 1). Alternatively, it could be from *Aithbrecc, an unattested earlier form of Aithbhreac. This was the name of two abbesses of Kildare in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was also borne by a 12th-century daughter of the king of the Isle of Mann who married the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy.
Aimeric m Germanic
Probably a variant of Heimirich. Aimeric (or Aimery) was the name of several viscounts of Narbonne between the 11th and 13th centuries. It was also borne by the first king of Cyprus (12th century), originally from Poitou, France.
Aithbhreac f Medieval Scottish
Older form of Oighrig. This name was borne by the 15th-century Scottish poet Aithbhreac Inghean Coirceadal.
Akachi m & f Igbo
Means "the hand of God" in Igbo.
Akicita m Sioux
From Lakota or Dakota akíčhita meaning "warrior".
Akuchi f & m Igbo
Means "wealth from God" in Igbo.
Alaric m Gothic (Anglicized)
From the Gothic name *Alareiks meaning "ruler of all", derived from the element alls "all" combined with reiks "ruler, king". This was the name of a king of the Visigoths who sacked Rome in the 5th century.
Alberich m Germanic, Germanic Mythology
Derived from the Old German elements alb "elf" and rih "ruler, king". It was borne by two Lombard dukes of Spoleto in the 10th century. It was also the name of a 12th-century French saint who helped found the Cistercian Order.... [more]
Alberico m Italian
Italian form of Alberich.
Albrecht m German
German variant of Albert. A notable bearer was the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528).
Alcaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκαῖος (Alkaios) meaning "strong", derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess". This was the name of a 7th-century BC lyric poet from the island of Lesbos.
Alcestis f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἄλκηστις (Alkestis), derived from ἀλκηστής (alkestes) meaning "brave, valiant", a derivative of ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess". In Greek mythology she was the wife of King Admetus. She offered to die in place of her husband, though she was eventually rescued from the underworld by Herakles. This story was told by the Greek playwright Euripides in his 5th-century BC tragedy Alcestis.
Alcetas m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Possibly derived from Greek ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess". This name was borne by kings of Macedon and Epirus.
Alcibiades m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκιβιάδης (Alkibiades), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" and βία (bia) meaning "force" with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a notable Greek statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War. He changed allegiance from Athens to Sparta and back again during the course of the war. He features in Shakespeare's tragedy Timon of Athens (1607).
Alcide m Italian, French
Italian and French form of Alcides.
Alcides m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Portuguese, Spanish
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκείδης (Alkeides), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was another name for the hero Herakles.
Alcina f Carolingian Cycle
Used by Ludovico Ariosto in his poem Orlando Furioso (1532), where it belongs to a sorceress who abducts Ruggiero. Ariosto may have borrowed the name from the mythological Alcinoe or directly from the Greek word ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess". George Frideric Handel adapted the story into his opera Alcina in 1735.
Alcione f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Alcyone.
Alcippe f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἀλκίππη (Alkippe), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This was the name of a daughter of Ares in Greek myth. Her father killed Halirrhotis, a son of Poseidon, when he attempted to rape her, leading to a murder trial in which Ares was quickly acquitted.
Alcmene f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἀλκμήνη (Alkmene), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" combined with μήνη (mene) meaning "moon" or μῆνις (menis) meaning "wrath". In Greek mythology Alcmene was the wife of Amphitryon. She was the mother of Herakles by Zeus, who bedded her by disguising himself as her absent husband.
Alcyone f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkyone), derived from the word ἀλκυών (alkyon) meaning "kingfisher". In Greek myth this name belonged to a daughter of Aeolus and the wife of Ceyx. After her husband was killed in a shipwreck she threw herself into the water, but the gods saved her and turned them both into kingfishers. This is also the name of the brightest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, supposedly the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Aldric m French (Rare), Germanic
From a Germanic name, derived from the elements alt "old" and rih "ruler, king". Saint Aldric was a 9th-century bishop of Le Mans.
Alec m English
Short form of Alexander.
Alecia f English
Variant of Alicia.
Aleĉjo m Esperanto
Esperanto diminutive of Alexander.
Alecto f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀληκτώ (Alekto), which was derived from ἄληκτος (alektos) meaning "unceasing". This was the name of one of the Furies or Ἐρινύες (Erinyes) in Greek mythology.
Alica f Slovak
Slovak form of Alice.
Alice f English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Czech, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch
From the Old French name Aalis, a short form of Adelais, itself a short form of the Germanic name Adalheidis (see Adelaide). This name became popular in France and England in the 12th century. It was among the most common names in England until the 16th century, when it began to decline. It was revived in the 19th century.... [more]
Alícia f Catalan, Portuguese
Catalan form of Alice, as well as a Portuguese variant.
Alicia f Spanish, English, Swedish, French
Latinized form of Alice.
Alicja f Polish
Polish form of Alice.
Allochka f Russian
Russian diminutive of Alla.
Altagracia f Spanish (Caribbean)
Means "high grace", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, meaning "Our Lady of High Grace". She is considered the patron saint of the Dominican Republic, and it is there that this name is most often used.
Alyce f English
Variant of Alice.
Alycia f English
Variant of Alicia.
Amalric m Gothic (Anglicized)
From the Visigothic name *Amalareiks, derived from the Gothic element amals meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave", also referring to the royal dynasty of the Amali, combined with reiks meaning "ruler, king". This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Visigoths, as well as two 12th-century rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Amalrich m Germanic
Old German form of Amalric.
Amâncio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Amantius.
Amancio m Spanish
Spanish form of Amantius.
Amarachi f Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo.
América f Spanish, Portuguese (Rare)
Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Amerigo.
America f English
In the English-speaking world, this name is usually given in reference to the United States of America (see Amerigo). It came into use as an American name in the 19th century.
Américo m Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Amerigo.
Amice f Medieval English
Medieval name derived from Latin amicus meaning "friend". This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.
Amichai m Hebrew
Means "my people are alive" in Hebrew.
Amílcar m Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Hamilcar.
Amilcare m Italian
Italian form of Hamilcar.
Anaclet m French (African)
French form of Anacletus, most common in Francophone Africa.
Anacleto m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Anacletus.
Anacletus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀνάκλητος (Anakletos), derived from ἀνάκλητος (anakletos) meaning "invoked". This was the name of the third pope.
Anca f Romanian
Possibly originally a diminutive of Ana.
Anĉjo m Esperanto
Esperanto diminutive of Anthony.
Ancuța f Romanian
Diminutive of Anca.
Androcles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Ἀνδροκλῆς (Androkles) meaning "glory of a man", derived from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a man who pulled a thorn from a lion's paw in one of Aesop's fables.
Andromache f Greek Mythology
Derived from the Greek elements ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle". In Greek legend she was the wife of the Trojan hero Hector. After the fall of Troy Neoptolemus killed her son Astyanax and took her as a concubine.
Andronicus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Ἀνδρόνικος (Andronikos) meaning "victory of a man", from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) and νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". This name is mentioned briefly in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament. Shakespeare later used it in his play Titus Andronicus (1593).
Angélica f Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Angelica.
Angelica f English, Italian, Romanian, Carolingian Cycle
Derived from Latin angelicus meaning "angelic", ultimately related to Greek ἄγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger". The poets Boiardo and Ariosto used this name in their Orlando poems (1483 and 1532), where she is the love interest of both Orlando and Rinaldo. It has been used as a given name since the 18th century.
Anica f Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Slovene, Croatian and Serbian diminutive of Anna.
Anicet m French
French form of Anicetus.
Aniceta f Spanish, Lithuanian
Feminine form of Anicetus.
Anicetas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Anicetus.
Aniceto m Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Anicetus.
Anicetus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀνίκητος (Aniketos) meaning "unconquerable". This was the name of an early pope.
Ankica f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Diminutive of Anka.
Annachiara f Italian
Combination of Anna and Chiara.
Ann-Christine f Swedish
Combination of Anna and Christine.
Annica f Swedish
Variant of Annika.
Annice f English
Variant of Annis.
Annick f Breton, French
French form of Breton Annaig, a diminutive of Anna.
Antica f Croatian
Croatian diminutive of Antonia.
Antinanco m Mapuche
Means "eagle of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and ñamko "eagle, hawk, buzzard".
Antiochus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίοχος (Antiochos), derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and ὀχή (oche) meaning "support". This was the name of several rulers of the Seleucid Empire. It was also borne by a 2nd-century Christian martyr, the patron saint of Sardinia.
Antioco m Italian
Italian form of Antiochus.
Anunciación f Spanish
Means "annunciation" in Spanish, referring to the event in the New Testament in which the angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.
Anuschka f German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Diminutive of Anna, inspired by the Russian form Annushka.
Aparecida f Portuguese
Means "appeared" in Portuguese, taken from the Brazilian title of the Virgin Mary Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, meaning "Our Lady of the Conception Who Appeared". It refers to a statue of the Virgin Mary that was said to have been pulled from a river by fishermen in the 18th century. Our Lady of Aparecida is regarded as the patron saint of Brazil.
Araceli f Spanish
Means "altar of the sky" from Latin ara "altar" and coeli "sky". This is an epithet of the Virgin Mary in her role as the patron saint of Lucena, Spain.
Arachne f Greek Mythology
Means "spider" in Greek. In Greek myth Arachne was a mortal woman who defeated Athena in a weaving contest. After this Arachne hanged herself, but Athena brought her back to life in the form of a spider.
Arancha f Spanish
Spanish form of Arantxa.
Arcadia f Spanish (Latin American)
Feminine form of Arcadius. This is the name of a region on the Greek Peloponnese, long idealized for its natural beauty.
Arcadio m Spanish
Spanish form of Arcadius.
Arcangelo m Italian
Means "archangel" in Italian.
Archana f Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil
From Sanskrit अर्चन (arcana) meaning "honouring, praising". This is the name of a Hindu ritual.
Archelaus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀρχέλαος (Archelaos), which meant "master of the people" from ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and λαός (laos) meaning "people". This was the name of a son of Herod the Great. He ruled over Judea, Samaria and Idumea.
Archembald m Germanic
Old German form of Ercanbald.
Archer m English
From an English surname meaning "bowman, archer", of Old French origin. Although already slowly growing in popularity, this name accelerated its rise after the premiere of the American television series Archer in 2009.
Archibald m Scottish, English
Derived from the Germanic name Ercanbald, composed of the elements erkan meaning "pure, holy, genuine" and bald meaning "bold, brave". The first element was altered due to the influence of Greek names beginning with the element ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". The Normans brought this name to England. It first became common in Scotland in the Middle Ages (sometimes used to Anglicize the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, for unknown reasons).
Archie m Scottish, English
Diminutive of Archibald. This name is borne by Archie Andrews, an American comic-book character created in 1941. It was also used by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for the name of their son born 2019.
Archil m Georgian
Meaning unknown, of Persian origin. This was the name of an 8th-century Georgian noble who was executed for refusing to convert to Islam.
Archimedes m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician, astronomer and inventor.
Archippe f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Archippos.
Archippos m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Means "master of horses" from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". In the New Testament it is borne by a man mentioned in the epistles (spelled as Archippus, the Latinized form, in the English version).
Arcturus m Astronomy
From Ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (Arktouros), the name of the fourth brightest star in the sky, part of the constellation Boötes. It means "guardian of the bear", derived from ἄρκτος (arktos) meaning "bear" and οὖρος (ouros) meaning "guardian", referring to the star's position close to the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.
Aric m English
Variant of Eric.
Aristarchus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". This name was borne by Aristarchus of Samos, a 3rd-century BC Greek astronomer and mathematician.
Aristocles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀριστοκλῆς (Aristokles) meaning "the best glory", derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the real name of the philosopher Plato.
Aristomache f Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle".
Arlecchino m Theatre
Italian form of Harlequin.
Arsaces m Old Persian (Latinized), Parthian (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ἀρσάκης (Arsakes), the Greek form of Old Persian 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎣 (Aršaka) or Parthian 𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊 (Arshak), perhaps a diminutive of Old Persian 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠𐎴 (aršan) meaning "hero". This name was borne by two rulers of Parthia, including the first king (3rd century BC).
Artaxshaça m Old Persian
Old Persian form of Artaxerxes.
Ascanio m Italian
Italian form of Ascanius.
Ascanius m Roman Mythology
From Greek Ἀσκάνιος (Askanios), of unknown meaning. In Greek and Roman mythology Ascanius, also called Julus, was the son of Aeneas.
Ascelin m Germanic
Derived from a diminutive of the Old German element asc meaning "ash tree" (Proto-Germanic *askaz).
Ascensión f Spanish
Means "ascension" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Asco m Germanic
Derived from the Old German element asc meaning "ash tree" (Proto-Germanic *askaz).
Assumpció f Catalan
Catalan cognate of Asunción.
Assunção f Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Asunción.
Asunción f Spanish
Means "assumption" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
Athanaric m Gothic (Anglicized)
From the Gothic name *Aþanareiks, derived from the element aþn meaning "year" combined with reiks meaning "ruler, king". Athanaric was a 4th-century ruler of the Visigoths.
Atticus m Literature, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀττικός (Attikos) meaning "from Attica", referring to the region surrounding Athens in Greece. This name was borne by a few notable Greeks from the Roman period (or Romans of Greek background). The author Harper Lee used the name in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) for an Alabama lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.
Aucaman m Mapuche
Means "wild condor" in Mapuche, from awka- "wild" and mañke "condor".
Aurica f Romanian
Romanian diminutive of Aurelia.
Aurică m Romanian
Romanian diminutive of Aurel.
Autchar m Germanic
Variant of Audagar.
Avicenna m History
Latinized form of the Arabic patronymic ابن سينا (ibn Sīnā), referring to the famed Arabic-speaking Persian philosopher and physician Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Sina (980-1037). His patronymic commemorates an ancestor named Sina.
Aymeric m French
French form of Aimeric.
Aytac f Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani cognate of Aytaç.
Aytaç m & f Turkish
Derived from Turkish ay meaning "moon" and taç meaning "crown" (of Persian origin).
Azucena f Spanish
Means "madonna lily" in Spanish.
Bacchus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Βάκχος (Bakchos), derived from ἰάχω (iacho) meaning "to shout". This was another name of the Greek god Dionysos, and it was also the name that the Romans commonly used for him.
Bachtiar m Indonesian
Indonesian form of Bakhtiar.
Baldechild f Germanic
Old German (Frankish) variant of Balthild.
Balderich m Germanic
Old German form of Baldric.
Baldric m English (Archaic)
Derived from the Old German elements bald "bold, brave" and rih "ruler, king". It was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint, the founder of the monastery of Montfaucon. The Normans introduced this name to Britain, and it was common in the Middle Ages.
Barack m Various
In the case of the former American president Barack Obama (1961-), he was named after his Kenyan father. His father had Anglicized it from the original spelling Baraka.
Barclay m English (Rare)
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from the English place name Berkeley, itself from Old English beorc "birch" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Barica f Croatian
Croatian diminutive of Barbara.
Barouch m Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Baruch.
Baruch m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Hebrew
From the Hebrew name בָּרוּך (Baruḵ) meaning "blessed". In the Old Testament this is the name of a companion of the prophet Jeremiah, acting as his scribe and assistant. The deuterocanonical Book of Baruch was supposedly written by him. A famous bearer was Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), a Dutch-Jewish rationalist philosopher.
Bearach m Irish (Rare)
Modern Irish form of Berach.
Béatrice f French
French form of Beatrix.
Beatrice f Italian, English, Swedish, Romanian
Italian form of Beatrix. Beatrice Portinari (1266-1290) was the woman who was loved by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. She serves as Dante's guide through paradise in his epic poem the Divine Comedy (1321). This is also the name of a character in Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1599), in which Beatrice and Benedick are fooled into confessing their love for one another.
Becca f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Beck m & f English (Rare)
From a surname of English, German or Scandinavian origins, all derived from related words meaning "stream". As a feminine name, in some cases it is a short form of Rebecca. A noted bearer is the American rock musician Beck Hansen (1970-), born Bek David Campbell, who goes by the stage name Beck.
Becka f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Beckah f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Beckett m English (Modern)
From an English surname that could be derived from various sources, including from Middle English bec meaning "beak" or bekke meaning "stream, brook".
Beckham m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "Becca's homestead". The Old English byname Becca meant "pickaxe". A famous bearer of the surname is retired English soccer player David Beckham (1975-).
Becki f English
Diminutive of Rebecca.
Becky f English
Diminutive of Rebecca.
Bedřich m Czech
Czech form of Frederick.
Beetlejuice m Popular Culture
Variant of Betelgeuse used for the title character of the movie Beetlejuice (1988), about an obnoxious ghost who is commissioned to scare a family out of their new house. The character's name is spelled Betelgeuse in the credits, though in other media it appears as Beetlejuice.
Bence m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Vincent. It is also used as a short form of Benedek.
Benedick m Literature
Variant of Benedict used by Shakespeare in his comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1599).
Benedict m English
From the Late Latin name Benedictus, which meant "blessed". Saint Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictines in the 6th century. After his time the name was common among Christians, being used by 16 popes. In England it did not come into use until the 12th century, at which point it became very popular. This name was also borne by the American general Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), who defected to Britain during the American Revolution.
Benedicta f Late Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of Benedictus (see Benedict).
Bénédicte f French
French feminine form of Benedict.
Benedicte f Norwegian, Danish
Norwegian and Danish feminine form of Benedict.
Benedicto m Spanish
Spanish form of Benedictus (see Benedict).
Benedictus m Late Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Original Latin form of Benedict. This is also the official Dutch form, used on birth certificates but not typically in daily life.
Benicio m Spanish
From the surname of the 13th-century Italian saint Philip Benitius (Filippo Benizi in Italian; Felipe Benicio in Spanish). A notable bearer of the given name is the Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro (1967-).
Beorhtric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorht "bright" and ric "ruler, king".
Berach m Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish berach meaning "sharp, pointed". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
Beracha f Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew בְּרָכָה (see Bracha).
Bérénice f French
French form of Berenice.
Berenice f English, Italian, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Βερενίκη (Berenike), the Macedonian form of the Greek name Φερενίκη (Pherenike), which meant "bringing victory" from φέρω (phero) meaning "to bring" and νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". This name was common among the Ptolemy ruling family of Egypt, a dynasty that was originally from Macedon. It occurs briefly in Acts in the New Testament (in most English Bibles it is spelled Bernice) belonging to a sister of King Herod Agrippa II. As an English name, Berenice came into use after the Protestant Reformation.
Bernice f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Contracted form of Berenice. It occurs briefly in Acts in the New Testament belonging to a sister of King Herod Agrippa II.
Berniece f English
Variant of Bernice.
Beyoncé f African American (Modern)
Popularized by the American singer Beyoncé Knowles (1981-) whose given name came from her mother's maiden name (which was originally Beyincé, of Louisiana Creole origin). This name appeared on the United States top 1000 list in 2001, around the time her group Destiny's Child was at the height of their popularity.
Bianca f Italian, Romanian
Italian cognate of Blanche. Shakespeare had characters named Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (1593) and Othello (1603). The German singer Freddy Breck's 1973 song Bianca boosted the name's popularity elsewhere in Europe.
Biancamaria f Italian
Combination of Bianca and Maria.
Bice f Italian
Short form of Beatrice.
Bích f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (bích) meaning "bluish green, cyan".
Blagica f Macedonian
Derived from Macedonian благ (blag) meaning "sweet, pleasant, good" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Blanca f Spanish, Catalan
Spanish and Catalan cognate of Blanche.
Blanch f English
Variant of Blanche.
Blanchard m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements blanc meaning "white" and hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This was the name of an obscure (perhaps legendary) 7th-century French saint.
Blanche f French, English
From a medieval French nickname meaning "white, fair-coloured". This word and its cognates in other languages are ultimately derived from the Germanic word *blankaz. An early bearer was the 12th-century Blanca of Navarre, the wife of Sancho III of Castile. Her granddaughter of the same name married Louis VIII of France, with the result that the name became more common in France.
Boadicea f Brythonic (Latinized)
Medieval variant of Boudicca, possibly arising from a scribal error.
Bomilcar m Phoenician (Latinized)
From the Punic name 𐤁𐤃𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕 (Bodmilqart), from Phoenician 𐤁𐤃 (bod) meaning "on behalf of" or perhaps from 𐤏𐤁𐤃 (ʿabd) meaning "servant, slave" combined with the name of the god Melqart. This name was borne by a few figures from Carthaginian history.
Bonaccorso m Medieval Italian
Medieval Italian name derived from bono "good" and accorso "haste, rush, help".
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.
Bonifacia f Spanish
Feminine form of Bonifacio.
Bonifácio m Portuguese (Rare)
Portuguese form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Bonifacio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Bonifacy m Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Bosco m Spanish, Italian (Rare)
From the surname Bosco, given in honour of the Italian saint John Bosco (1815-1888).
Bouchra f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic بشرى (see Bushra) chiefly used in North Africa.
Boudicca f Brythonic (Latinized)
Derived from Brythonic boud meaning "victory". This was the name of a 1st-century queen of the Iceni who led the Britons in revolt against the Romans. Eventually her forces were defeated and she committed suicide. Her name is first recorded in Roman histories, as Boudicca by Tacitus and Βουδουῖκα (Boudouika) by Cassius Dio.
Boyce m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old French bois "wood".
Božica f Croatian
Derived from the Slavic element božĭjĭ meaning "divine". It also means "goddess" in Croatian.
Bracha f Hebrew
Means "blessing" in Hebrew.
Brádach m Medieval Irish
Irish byname, possibly derived from bradach meaning "thieving, roguish, spirited".
Branca f Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician form of Blanche.
Brankica f Croatian, Serbian
Derived from the Slavic element borna (South Slavic brana) meaning "protection" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Brecht m Dutch
Short form of names containing brecht, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Brechtje f Dutch
Feminine form of Brecht.
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.
Bricius m Gaulish (Latinized)
Latin form of Brice, probably ultimately of Gaulish origin.
Briscoe m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" in Old Norse.
Broccán m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Brogán.
Broccomaglos m Brythonic (Hypothetical)
Possible Brythonic form of Brochfael.
Brochfael m Medieval Welsh
From Old Welsh Brochmail, from a Brythonic name *Broccomaglos, derived from Celtic *brokkos "badger" and *maglos "chief". This was the name of a 6th-century king of Powys, also known as Brochwel.
Brochmail m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Brochfael.
Brock m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English brocc meaning "badger".
Brónach f Irish
Means "sad", derived from Irish brón meaning "sorrow". Saint Brónach was a 6th-century Irish mystic.
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.
Bryce m English
Variant of Brice.
Brychan m Old Welsh
Derived from Welsh brych meaning "speckled, freckled" combined with a diminutive suffix. Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary Welsh king, said to be Irish by birth, the founder of the kingdom of Brycheiniog in central Wales. He reputedly fathered dozens of children, many of whom are regarded as saints.
Buck m English
From an English nickname meaning simply "buck, male deer", ultimately from Old English bucc.
Bulcsú m Hungarian
Hungarian name of uncertain meaning. This was the name of a 10th-century Hungarian military leader.
Burçin f & m Turkish
Means "hind, doe" in Turkish.
Burcu f Turkish
Means "sweet smelling, fragrant" in Turkish.
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.
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).
Cabdullaahi m Somali
Somali form of Abd Allah.
Cäcilia f German
German form of Cecilia.
Cäcilie f German
German form of Cecilia.
Cade m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a nickname meaning "round" in Old English.
Cadell m Welsh (Rare)
From Old Welsh Catell, derived from cat "battle" and a diminutive suffix. This was the name of two early kings of Powys in Wales.
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.