CalinefFrench (Modern, Rare, ?) A feminine variation of the Greek name Νικολαος (Nikolaos). It also resembles the french word "câlin(e)" (affectionate).
CalinettefAfro-American (Slavery-era) Possibly derived from French câline, the feminine form of the adjective câlin "cuddly" (ultimately via Old French from Vulgar Latin *calina, which itself is from Latin calidus "warm").
CallychrowneyfManx (Archaic) Derived from Manx caillagh, a cognate of Old Irish caillech "veiled one; (and by extension) nun; female servant" (ultimately from Old Irish caille "veil") and Irish Cróine with the intended meaning of "servant of Saint Cróine", an obscure female saint (since the names of saints were considered too holy for everyday use, they were usually prefixed until the 17th century).
CampanellamLiterature From Latin campanella (a smallish suspended bell used in medieval monastic cloisters), itself deriving from campana, meaning "bell". It appears in "Night on the Galactic Railroad", a classic Japanese fantasy novel by Kenji Miyazawa.
CandylènefFrench The name was the subject of a 1971 eponymous French pop song by Yves Heuzé. Since then, the name has experienced sporadic usage in France.
CanelomSpanish (Rare) Derived from the Spanish noun canelo, which can mean "winter's bark tree" as well as "cinnamon tree". Also compare Canela.... [more]
Canequef & mNew World Mythology A Mayan name meaning roughly, 'mischievous forest spirit.' Appears in local mythology.
CanethusmGreek Mythology Etymology uncertain, but it may be linked to κανθός (kanthos) meaning "eyelid, corner of the eye".
CannetellafLiterature Derived from Italian canna "reed" combined with a diminutive suffix. This name is borne by the protagonist of the Italian fairy tale "Cannetella" by Giambattista Basile. Cannetella is a young princess who marries the evil wizard Fioravante.
CapaneusmGreek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of Greek Καπανεύς (Kapaneus), which is possibly derived from Greek καπάνη (kapanē) meaning "chariot". It could also have been derived from Greek κάπη (kapē) meaning "crib, manger" or even from Greek κᾶπος (kapos), which can mean "plot of land, garden" as well as "breath"... [more]
CarbonelmLiterature Transferred use of the surname Carbonel. This name was used in Barbara Sleigh's Carbonel series where Carbonel is a black cat who was owned by a witch.
CarneiscusmAncient Greek Ancient Greek philosopher of the Epicurean school. His only surviving writing is on the subject of the death of a friend.... [more]
Carnelianf & mEnglish After the brownish red mineral of the same name, of which the name is a corruption of cornelian, which in turn is derived from Latin cornelianus (see Cornelianus).
Cayennef & mEnglish (Modern, Rare) From Old Tupi quiínia meaning "hot pepper," referring to any of several very hot chilli peppers or a powder condiment or spice formed from these varieties.
CebrionesmGreek Mythology Uncertain etymology; some academia has theorised that it derives from an ancient name for a bird, perhaps the cormorant. This was the name of an illegitimate son of King Priam of Troy in Homer's Illiad, who acted as a charioteer for his half-brother Hector and was slain in battle by Patrocles... [more]
CélimènefLiterature, Theatre, French (Rare) This name was invented by Molière for his play "The Misanthrope" (17th century). Given that many characters in his play bear names that are obviously of Greek origin (or inspired by the Greek language), the name Célimène must then at least be partly Greek as well... [more]
CenerinafItalian (Archaic) Derived from Italian ceneri "ashes". This was traditionally given to girls born on Ash Wednesday (mercoledì delle ceneri or Ceneri in Italian). It is a cognate of Cendrillon.
Cézannef & mEnglish, Afrikaans From the French artist, Paul Cézanne. This name is sometimes used as a feminine name by Afrikaners in South Africa due to its similarity to Suzanne.
ChalchiuhtlanetzinmNahuatl Means "bright precious stone" in Nahuatl, from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and tlanextli "light, radiance", combined with the diminutive or reverential suffix -tzin... [more]
ChaldenefAstronomy, Greek Mythology One of Jupiter's moons, named for a character in Greek mythology whose name is variously given as Chaldene, Caldene, Calchedonia, or Chalcea.
ChansonettafObscure Most likely derived from French chanson meaning "song" combined with the feminine suffix etta. This name was borne by Chansonetta Stanley Emmons (1858-1937), an American photographer.
Cheienef & mPortuguese (Brazilian, Rare) Derived from Portuguese cheiene meaning "Cheyenne" (singular). So, in other words, you could say that this name is the Portuguese cognate of Cheyenne.... [more]
ChelonefGreek Mythology Chelone was a nymph or a mortal woman who was changed into a tortoise by the gods. She was transformed by Hermes for refusing to attend the wedding of Hera and Zeus.... [more]
Cheneym & fEnglish From the traditionally English surname, a variant of Chesney, or from the French habitational surname from a place in Yonne, derived from a Romano-Gallic estate, Caniacum, meaning "estate of a man named Canius".
Chesneym & fEnglish From the traditionally English and French topographic surname for someone who lived by or in an oak wood, from the Old French chesnai "oak grove", from chesne 'oak tree'.
ChimnechildfFrankish Chimnechild of Burgundy (7th-century – fl. 662) was a Frankish queen consort by marriage to King Sigebert III. She was the mother of Bilichild and possibly of Dagobert II. When Childebert the Adopted died, she opposed the succession of Theuderic III and arranged a marriage between her daughter and Childeric II, whose succession she supported.
ChinekofJapanese From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand", 音 (ne) meaning "sound" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.
ChitonettefJudeo-Anglo-Norman Derived from Middle English chitte "a young animal, cub, whelp" and chit "a child or babe; a young, small, or insignificant person or animal" as well as "a pert or sassy young person, especially a young woman".
ChiunemJapanese (Rare) Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name was the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), who helped thousands of Jews flee Europe during World War II.
ChiyonefJapanese This name is made of 千 (chi) meaning "thousand", 世 (yo, se) meaning "world", or 代 (yo) meaning "generation, age, replace, substitute, period", with 音 (ne, non) meaning "sound, noise"... [more]
ChoerinefAncient Greek (Latinized) From the Greek name Χοιρίνη (Choirine), a feminine derivative of Choiros, which was itself derived from χοῖρος (choiros) meaning "young pig"... [more]