Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the usage is Ancient; and the first letter is C.
gender
usage
letter
Cadfan m Old Welsh
From an Old Welsh name, recorded in Latinized forms such as Catamanus, meaning "battle peak" from cat "battle" and bann "peak". Saint Cadfan, from Brittany, was a 6th-century missionary to Wales.
Cadoc m Old Welsh
From an Old Welsh name, recorded in Latinized forms such as Catocus, derived from cat meaning "battle". This was the name of a 6th-century Welsh saint who was martyred by the Saxons.
Caecilia f Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Cecilia.
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.
Cáelfind f Old Irish
Old Irish form of Caoilfhionn.
Caelia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caelius.
Caelina f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caelinus.
Caelinus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was itself derived from the Roman family name Caelius.
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.
Caeso m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, that was probably derived from Latin caesius meaning "blue-grey". This praenomen was only used by a few families.
Caesonia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Caesonius. This name was borne by Milonia Caesonia, the last wife of the Roman emperor Caligula.
Caesonius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from the praenomen Caeso.
Caíndelbán m Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish caín "handsome" and delb "form, image" (with a diminutive suffix).
Cainnech m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Coinneach.
Caius m Ancient Roman
Roman variant of Gaius.
Calpurnia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Calpurnius. This was the name of Julius Caesar's last wife.
Calpurnius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name, which was possibly derived from Latin calpar meaning "chalice, cup".
Calvus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "bald" in Latin.
Cambyses m Old Persian (Latinized), History
Latin form of Καμβύσης (Kambyses), the Greek form of the Old Persian name 𐎣𐎲𐎢𐎪𐎡𐎹 (Kabujiya), which is of uncertain meaning, possibly related to the geographical name Kamboja, a historical region in Central Asia. Two Persian kings bore this name, including Cambyses II, the second ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, who conquered Egypt.
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).
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.
Caracalla m Ancient Roman
From Latin caracalla, which referred to a type of hooded tunic worn by the Gauls. This was the agnomen, or nickname, of a 3rd-century Roman emperor.
Caratācos m Brythonic (Hypothetical)
Possible Brythonic form of Caratacus.
Caratacus m Brythonic (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Brythonic name *Caratācos meaning "loved", derived from the old Celtic root *karu "to love". According to Roman writers, this was the name of a 1st-century British chieftain who rebelled against Roman rule.
Caratauc m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Caradog.
Carlman m Germanic
Old German variant of Carloman.
Carloman m Germanic
From an Old German name derived from karl meaning "man" and man meaning "person, man". This was the name of several Frankish rulers, including the 8th-century Carloman I who ruled jointly with his brother Charlemagne for a time.
Carthach m Old Irish
Means "loving" in Irish. This was the name of two Irish saints, from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Cassander m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κάσσανδρος (Kassandros), the masculine form of Cassandra. This was the name of a 3rd-century BC king of Macedon.
Cassia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cassius.
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.
Cassianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Cassian.
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).
Catell m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Cadell.
Catguocaun m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Cadwgan.
Cathal m Irish, Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish cath "battle" and fal "rule". This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint. It was also borne by several Irish kings. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Charles.
Cathalán m Old Irish
Diminutive of Cathal.
Cathán m Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish cath "battle" combined with a diminutive suffix. Saint Cathán was a 6th-century Irish monk, a missionary to the Isle of Bute.
Cathassach m Old Irish
Means "vigilant" in Irish.
Cato 1 m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "wise" in Latin. This name was bestowed upon Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato), a 2nd-century BC Roman statesman, author and censor, and was subsequently inherited by his descendants, including his great-grandson Cato the Younger (Marcus Porcius Cato Uticencis), a politician and philosopher who opposed Julius Caesar.
Ceadda m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Chad.
Cellach m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Ceallach.
Cellachán m Old Irish
Diminutive of Cellach. This name was borne by a 10th-century king of Munster.
Celsus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name meaning "tall" in Latin. This was the name of a 2nd-century philosopher who wrote against Christianity. It was also borne by an early saint martyred with Nazarius in Milan.
Cenhelm m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Kenelm.
Cennétig m Old Irish
Old Irish byname meaning either "armoured head" or "misshapen head" (Old Irish cenn "head" and étiud "armour, clothing" or étig "ugly, misshapen"). This was the name of an Irish king, the father of Brian Boru.
Cenric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cene "bold" and ric "ruler, king".
Ceolmund m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ceol "keel" and mund "protection".
Cerball m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Cearbhall.
Cerdic m Anglo-Saxon
Earlier form of Cedric, possibly of Brythonic origin.
Chares m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian general. It was also borne by the sculptor who crafted the Colossus of Rhodes.
Charibert m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) variant of Haribert. This name was borne by two Merovingian kings of the Franks (6th and 7th centuries).
Charikleia f Greek, Ancient Greek
From Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This is the name of the heroine of the 3rd-century novel Aethiopica, about the love between Charikleia and Theagenes, written by Heliodorus of Emesa.
Charilaos m Ancient Greek, Greek
Means "grace of the people", derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness" and λαός (laos) meaning "people".
Chariovalda m Old Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized form of Hariwald. This was the name of 1st-century Batavian chief mentioned by Tacitus.
Charis f & m Ancient Greek, Greek
Ancient Greek feminine form of Chares. This was the word (in the singular) for one of the three Graces (plural Χάριτες).... [more]
Chariton m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness". This was the name of a 1st-century Greek novelist.
Charmion f Ancient Greek (Rare)
Greek name derived from χάρμα (charma) meaning "delight". This was the name of one of Cleopatra's servants, as recorded by Plutarch.
Childebert m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) form of Hildebert. This name was borne by four Merovingian Frankish kings (between the 6th and 8th centuries).
Childeric m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) variant of Hilderic.
Chilperic m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) variant of Hilperic.
Chlodechilda f Germanic
Frankish name derived from the elements hlut "famous, loud" and hilt "battle". See also Clotilde.
Chlodochar m Germanic
Old German variant of Lothar.
Chlodomer m Germanic
Frankish name derived from the elements hlut "famous, loud" and mari "famous". This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Franks (a son of Clovis).
Chlodovech m Germanic (Latinized)
From Chlodovechus, a Latinized form of the Germanic name Hludwig (see Ludwig).
Chlodulf m Germanic
Old German form of Ludolf.
Chloe f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means "green shoot" in Greek, referring to new plant growth in the spring. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament.... [more]
Chlothar m Germanic
Old German form of Lothar.
Chrestos m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from Greek χρηστός (chrestos) meaning "useful, good".
Chrodechildis f Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized Frankish form of Clotilde.
Chrysanthos m Greek, Ancient Greek
Means "golden flower" from Greek χρύσεος (chryseos) meaning "golden" combined with ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This name was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd-century Egyptian saint.
Cian m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "ancient, enduring" in Irish. In Irish mythology this was the name of the father of Lugh Lámfada. It was also borne by the mythical ancestor of the Ciannachta and by a son-in-law of Brian Boru.
Cianán m Irish, Old Irish
Diminutive of Cian. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish saint.
Ciar m & f Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Derived from Irish ciar meaning "black". In Irish legend Ciar was a son of Fergus mac Róich and Medb, and the ancestor of the tribe of the Ciarraige (after whom County Kerry is named). As a feminine name, it was borne by an Irish nun (also called Ciara) who established a monastery in Tipperary in the 7th century.
Ciarán m Irish, Old Irish
Diminutive of Ciar. This was the name of two 6th-century Irish saints: Ciarán the Elder, the founder of the monastery at Saighir, and Ciarán the Younger, the founder of the monastery at Clonmacnoise.
Cicero m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin cicer meaning "chickpea". Marcus Tullius Cicero (now known simply as Cicero) was a statesman, orator and author of the 1st century BC. He was a political enemy of Mark Antony, who eventually had him executed.
Cináed m Medieval Scottish, Old Irish
Possibly from Old Irish cin "respect, esteem, affection" or cinid "be born, come into being" combined with áed "fire", though it might actually be of Pictish origin. This was the name of the first king of the Scots and Picts (9th century). It is often Anglicized as Kenneth. The originally unrelated name Coinneach is sometimes used as the modern Scottish Gaelic form.
Čĭstiborŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Ctibor.
Čĭstimirŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Čestmír.
Čĭstiradŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Ctirad.
Claudia f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Claudius. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament. As a Christian name it was very rare until the 16th century.
Claudius m Ancient Roman
From a Roman family name that was possibly derived from Latin claudus meaning "lame, crippled". This was the name of a patrician family prominent in Roman politics. The ancestor of the family was said to have been a 6th-century BC Sabine leader named Attius Clausus, who adopted the name Appius Claudius upon becoming a Roman citizen. The family produced several Roman emperors of the 1st century, including the emperor known simply as Claudius (birth name Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus). He was poisoned by his wife Agrippina in order to bring her son Nero (Claudius's stepson) to power.... [more]
Cleisthenes m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Κλεισθένης (Kleisthenes), derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" and σθένος (sthenos) meaning "strength". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and reformer. He helped establish democracy in Athens.
Cleon m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Κλέων (Kleon), a Greek name derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory".
Cleopatra f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopatra) meaning "glory of the father", derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" combined with πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός). This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide (according to popular belief, by allowing herself to be bitten by a venomous asp). Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (1606) tells the story of her life.
Clodovicus m Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Germanic name Hludwig (see Ludwig).
Cloelia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cloelius. In Roman legend Cloelia was a maiden who was given to an Etruscan invader as a hostage. She managed to escape by swimming across the Tiber, at the same time helping some of the other captives to safety.
Cloelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name of unknown meaning.
Clothildis f Germanic (Latinized)
Medieval Latin form of Chrodechildis and Chlodechilda (see Clotilde).
Cnaeus m Ancient Roman
Roman variant of Gnaeus.
Cóem m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Caomh.
Cóemán m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Caomhán.
Cóemgein m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Kevin.
Cola m Anglo-Saxon
Old English byname meaning "charcoal", originally given to a person with dark features.
Colmán m Irish, Old Irish
Diminutive of Colm (see Colum). This was the name of a large number of Irish saints.
Colobert m Germanic
Old German name composed of (possibly) the element kollo meaning "head, peak" and beraht meaning "bright".
Colum m Irish, Old Irish
Irish form of Columba. The Old Irish word columb or colum also means "dove", derived from Latin columba.
Columb m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Columba.
Columbán m Old Irish
Possibly an Irish diminutive of Columba. Alternatively, it may be derived from Old Irish colum "dove" and bán "white". The 7th-century Saint Columbán of Leinster was the founder of several monasteries in Europe.
Comgall m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Comhghall.
Conall m Irish, Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "rule of a wolf", from Old Irish "hound, dog, wolf" (genitive con) and fal "rule". This is the name of several characters in Irish legend including the hero Conall Cernach ("Conall of the victories"), a member of the Red Branch of Ulster, who avenged Cúchulainn's death by killing Lugaid.
Conán m Irish, Old Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Conan.
Conchobar m Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Derived from Old Irish "hound, dog, wolf" (genitive con) and cobar "desiring". It has been in use in Ireland for centuries and was the name of several Irish rulers. It was borne by the Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa, one of the central characters in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, known for his tragic desire for Deirdre and his war with Queen Medb of Connacht.
Conláed m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Conleth.
Conn m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Perhaps from Old Irish conn meaning "sense, reason" or cenn meaning "head, chief". This was the name of a legendary high king of Ireland, Conn of the Hundred Battles.
Conrad m English, German, Germanic
Means "brave counsel", derived from the Old German elements kuoni "brave" and rat "counsel, advice". This was the name of a 10th-century saint and bishop of Konstanz, in southern Germany. It was also borne by several medieval German kings and dukes, notably Conrad II, the first of the Holy Roman Emperors from the Salic dynasty. In England it was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, but has only been common since the 19th century when it was reintroduced from Germany.
Conrí m Old Irish
Means "king of hounds" in Irish.
Corinna f German, Italian, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Κόριννα (Korinna), which was derived from κόρη (kore) meaning "maiden". This was the name of a Greek lyric poet of the 5th century BC. The Roman poet Ovid used it for the main female character in his book Amores. In the modern era it has been in use since the 17th century, when Robert Herrick used it in his poem Corinna's going a-Maying.
Corinthia f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κορινθία (Korinthia) meaning "woman from Corinth", an ancient Greek city-state. This is the real name of Corrie in William Faulkner's novel The Reivers (1962).
Cornelia f German, Romanian, Italian, Dutch, English, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cornelius. In the 2nd century BC it was borne by Cornelia Scipionis Africana (the daughter of the military hero Scipio Africanus), the mother of the two reformers known as the Gracchi. After her death she was regarded as an example of the ideal Roman woman. The name was revived in the 18th century.
Cornelius m Ancient Roman, English, Dutch, German, Biblical
Roman family name that possibly derives from the Latin element cornu meaning "horn". In Acts in the New Testament Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek Peter. After speaking with Peter he converts to Christianity, and he is traditionally deemed the first gentile convert. The name was also borne by a few early saints, including a 3rd-century pope. In England it came into use in the 16th century, partly due to Dutch influence.
Cosmas m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κοσμᾶς (Kosmas), which was derived from κόσμος (kosmos) meaning "order, world, universe". Saint Cosmas was martyred with his twin brother Damian in the 4th century. They are the patron saints of physicians.
Crispus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "curly-haired" in Latin.
Cúán m Old Irish
Means "little wolf" or "little hound" from Old Irish meaning "wolf, hound" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an 8th-century saint.
Cuimín m Old Irish
Probably from Old Irish camm meaning "bent, crooked". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
Cunigund f Germanic
Old German form of Kunigunde.
Cunobelinos m Brythonic (Hypothetical)
Possible Brythonic form of Cunobelinus.
Cunobelinus m Brythonic (Latinized)
Latinized form of a Brythonic name, possibly from old Celtic * "dog, hound" (genitive *kunos) combined with either the name of the god Belenus or another Celtic root meaning "strong". This was the name of a 1st-century king of southeastern Britain. He is known from Roman historians such as Suetonius and medieval Welsh histories, as well as from coins bearing his name.
Cuthberht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Cuthbert.
Cynebald m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and beald "bold, brave".
Cyneberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements cyne "royal" and beorht "bright".
Cyneburg f Anglo-Saxon
Means "royal fortress" from Old English cyne "royal" and burg "fortress". Saint Cyneburga, a daughter of a king of Mercia, was the founder of an abbey at Castor in the 7th century.
Cynefrið m Anglo-Saxon
Means "royal peace" from Old English cyne "royal" and friþ "peace".
Cyneheard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and heard "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Cynemær m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and mære "famous".
Cyneric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and ric "ruler, king".
Cynesige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and sige "victory".
Cyneswiþ f Anglo-Saxon
From Old English cyne "royal" and swiþ "strong". Saint Cyneswitha was a younger sister of Saint Cyneburg.
Cyneweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and weard "guard".
Cynwrig m Old Welsh
Derived from Old Welsh cynt meaning "first, chief" and gur meaning "man", plus the suffix ig indicating "has the quality of".
Cyprianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Cyprian.
Cyrus m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Old Persian (Latinized)
Latin form of Greek Κῦρος (Kyros), from the Old Persian name 𐎤𐎢𐎽𐎢𐏁 (Kuruš), possibly meaning "young" or "humiliator (of the enemy)". Alternatively it could be of Elamite origin. The name has sometimes been associated with Greek κύριος (kyrios) meaning "lord".... [more]