The letter “C” offers a crisp, creative, and captivating sound for baby girl names. In the diverse landscape of American naming, “C” names can range from classic and common to truly distinctive and rare. For parents seeking a name that stands out with individuality, “C” holds a treasure trove of unique choices—names that are melodic, meaningful, and memorable, yet unlikely to be found on multiple classmates.
This curated list features over 140 unique American baby girl names starting with C. Each name has been selected for its distinctive sound, interesting origin, and potential to offer a beautifully uncommon identity.
The Ultimate List of Unique “C” Names for American Girls
Page Contents
Cade – “Round, barrel” – A strong, unisex surname-name, rare for girls.
Cady – “Rhythmic” or a variant of Katy – Simple and sprightly.
Cailin – The Irish Gaelic word for “girl,” pronounced KAY-lin.
Cairn – “Mound of stones” – A strong, earthy nature name.
Cait – A short, sharp form of Caitlin.
Caitriona – The elegant Irish Gaelic form of Catherine.
Calandra – “Lark” – A melodic and musical Greek name.
Caledonia – The poetic Latin name for Scotland.
Calia – “Beautiful, lovely” – A short and sweet modern name.
Calista – “Most beautiful” – A lyrical Greek name with celebrity ties.
Callahan – “Bright-headed” – A lively unisex Irish surname.
Calliope – “Beautiful voice” – The muse of epic poetry, bold and musical.
Calloway – “Pebble path” – A jazzy, energetic surname-name.
Calypso – “She who hides” – A nymph from Greek mythology and a musical style.
Cambree – A modern invented variant of Cambria.
Cambria – The Latin name for Wales, a poetic place-name.
Camelia – A variant spelling of the floral Camellia.
Camellia – The elegant, waxy-blossomed flower named for botanist Georg Kamel.
Cameron – “Crooked nose” – A popular unisex name, but distinctive as a full name for a girl.
Cami – A chic short form of Camilla or Camille.
Camille – “Young ceremonial attendant” – The sophisticated French form.
Candela – “Candle” – A luminous Spanish name.
Candida – “White, pure” – An ancient Roman name with a lovely, honest sound.
Candide – “White, pure” – The French form, known from Voltaire’s satire.
Canyon – “Large gorge” – A bold and majestic nature name.
Capri – The stylish Italian island, meaning “goats.”
Caprice – “Whimsical, fanciful” – A name full of spirit and style.
Cara – “Beloved, friend” – Simple, sweet, and internationally understood.
Carey – “From the castle” – A gentle unisex surname-name.
Cari – A variant of Carrie or Cary.
Caridad – “Charity” – The beautiful Spanish virtue name.
Carina – “Dear little one” or “keel of a ship” – A stellar constellation name.
Carrigan – “Little rock” – A spirited Irish surname-name.
Carys – “Love” – A beautiful and beloved Welsh name.
Caspian – “Of the Caspian Sea” – A majestic place-name, traditionally male but striking for a girl.
Cassia – “Cinnamon” – A spicy, fragrant, and golden-hued botanical name.
Cassian – “Hollow” – A saint’s name, traditionally male but gaining a sleek, unisex feel.
Cataleya – A stylish spelling variant of the orchid Cattleya.
Catarina – The elegant Portuguese and Italian form of Katherine.
Cate – The sleek, cool short form of Catherine.
Cathaleya – Another variant of the Cattleya orchid name.
Catherina – A classic, ornate spelling of Catherine.
Cecily – “Blind” – The medieval English form of Cecilia, soft and lovely.
Celestia – “Heavenly” – An elaborate and celestial name.
Celestine – “Heavenly” – The elegant French feminine form.
Celestina – “Little heavenly one” – A melodic elaboration.
Celia – “Heaven” – A sweet, vintage Shakespearean name.
Celosia – A type of vibrant, flame-shaped flower.
Ceres – The Roman goddess of agriculture.
Cerise – “Cherry” – A juicy, French color name.
Cerys – A Welsh variant of Carys, meaning “love.”
Ceylan – “Gazelle” – A graceful Turkish name.
Chandler – “Candle maker” – A unisex occupational surname, familiar from Friends.
Channing – “Young wolf” – A unisex surname with a cool, modern vibe.
Chantal – “Stone” – A smooth French name introduced by Saint Jane de Chantal.
Charis – “Grace, kindness” – One of the three Graces in Greek myth.
Charity – “Brotherly love” – A pure and beautiful virtue name.
Charlize – “Free man” – Famous from actress Charlize Theron, a strong and chic name.
Charmaine – “Song” or “charm” – A vintage name with a delightful sound.
Chaya – “Life” – A vital and beautiful Hebrew name.
Chevonne – An Anglicized form of the Irish name Siobhán.
Chiara – “Bright, clear” – The lovely Italian form of Clara.
Chloe – “Young green shoot” – A popular name, but its ancient Greek roots keep it timeless.
Chloris – “Pale green” – The Greek goddess of flowers.
Christabel – “Beautiful Christian” – A poetic and Gothic compound name.
Ciel – “Sky” in French – A short, dreamy nature name.
Cielo – “Sky, heaven” in Spanish and Italian – A beautiful, open-air name.
Cillian – “War, strife” – A strong Irish saint’s name, traditionally male but edgy for a girl.
Cindra – A variant of Cinderella or an invented name.
Cipriana – “From Cyprus” – An exotic and ancient place-name.
Circe – “Bird” – The powerful enchantress from Greek mythology.
Ciri – A short, modern name popularized by The Witcher series.
Clair – “Clear, bright” – A streamlined spelling of Claire.
Clara – “Bright, clear” – A vintage name that’s clear and classic.
Claribel – “Bright and beautiful” – A lyrical, literary name.
Clarice – “Bright” – The elegant form famous from Silence of the Lambs.
Clarity – “Clearness” – A modern, luminous virtue name.
Claudette – “Lame, enclosure” – The chic French diminutive of Claudia.
Clemence – “Merciful, gentle” – The graceful French virtue name.
Clementine – “Merciful, gentle” – A vintage, sweet, and musical name.
Cleo – “Glory” – Short for Cleopatra, cool and ancient.
Cleopatra – “Glory of the father” – The legendary Egyptian queen’s name.
Clio – “To make famous” – The muse of history, short and sharp.
Clodagh – Named for an Irish river – A beautiful and uniquely Irish choice.
Clover – “Key” – A lucky, cheerful nature name.
Colette – “People of victory” – A chic and sophisticated French name.
Colleen – “Girl” – An Irish-derived name that feels fresh again.
Collins – “Son of Colin” – A sleek, unisex surname-name on the rise for girls.
Cora – “Maiden” – A name from Greek myth, simple and strong.
Coral – The sea growth, a precious organic gem name.
Coralie – “Coral” – The delicate French elaboration.
Coraline – “Coral” – Known from Neil Gaiman’s novel, a hauntingly pretty name.
Cordelia – “Heart, daughter of the sea” – A literary name of great beauty and strength.
Coretta – Made famous by Coretta Scott King, a name of dignity and grace.
Corinna – “Maiden” – A poetic Greek name.
Corinne – The elegant French form of Corinna.
Cressida – “Gold” – A tragic Shakespearean heroine’s name, lyrical and uncommon.
Cricket – “The insect” – A quirky, chirpy nickname-name.
Crimson – “Deep red” – A rich, dramatic color name.
Crispina – “Curly-haired” – An ancient Roman name with a fresh, “crisp” sound.
Crystal – “Ice, clear” – A gem name that sparkles.
Cybele – “Mother of the gods” – The ancient Phrygian mother goddess.
Cydney – A modern spelling variant of Sydney.
Cymbeline – “Lord of the sun” – A rare and musical Shakespearean name.
Cynara – “Artichoke” – A unique botanical name used in poetry.
Cynthia – “From Mount Cynthus” – An epithet of the moon goddess Artemis, classic but less common today.
Cyra – “Sun, throne” – A powerful Persian name, short and regal.
Cyril – “Lordly” – A traditional male name with a soft, unisex potential.
Cyrilla – The feminine form of Cyril.
Cyrus – “Sun, throne” – Like Cyril, a traditionally male Persian name with a strong, unisex sound.
Modern & Inventive “C” Names
Cai – “Rejoice” – A Welsh form of Kay, short and striking.
Caia – A feminine form of Cai or a variant of Gaia.
Caiden – A modern unisex invented name, variant of Kayden.
Cailyn – A modern variant of Caitlin or Kaylyn.
Cairo – The Egyptian capital, a cool and worldly place-name.
Caisley – A modern invented name, blending sounds from Kylie and Paisley.
Calani – A Hawaiian name meaning “the heavens.”
Calder – “Rough waters” – A Scottish surname-name, strong and artistic.
Cale – A short, unisex name, variant of Kale or Caelan.
Caleigh – A phonetic spelling of Kaylee or Callie.
Calen – A unisex name, variant of Caelan or Kalen.
Caliana – A modern invented name, likely blending Callie and Ana.
Callen – “Rock” – A unisex surname-name.
Calvina – The rare feminine form of Calvin.
Camdyn – A modern unisex surname-name, variant of Camden.
Cameo – “Skin” or a small portrait – A delicate and artistic word name.
Cana – “Place of reeds” – A biblical place-name, short and sweet.
Candence – A creative spelling variant of Cadence.
Candida – Repeated for its pure and bright sound.
Canyon – Repeated for its natural majesty.
Cardigan – A cozy, preppy sweater name.
Cariad – The Welsh word for “love,” used as a name.
Caris – A variant of Charis or Carys.
Carlin – “Little champion” – A unisex Irish surname-name.
Carlisle – “From the walled city” – A handsome English place-name.
Carmel – “Garden, vineyard” – A biblical place-name, serene and beautiful.
Carnelian – A reddish-orange gemstone, warm and vibrant.
Carolina – “Free man” – The lyrical Latin form, less common than Caroline.
Cartier – The luxury French jewelry house, a sleek surname-name.
Cary – A unisex surname-name, gentle and classic.
Cash – “Maker of chests” – A cool, unisex surname-name.
Cashmere – The luxurious wool, a soft and opulent name.
Caspia – A feminine form of Caspian.
Cass – A cool, short form of Cassandra or Cassidy.
Cassiel – “Speed of God” – An angel’s name, mystical and rare.
Cassiopeia – The boastful queen from Greek myth and a constellation.
Cat – The ultimate short, cool form of Catherine.
Catalina – “Pure” – The beautiful Spanish form of Katherine.
Catarina – Repeated for its European elegance.
Catharine – An ornate, traditional spelling of Catherine.
Catherina – Repeated for its classical feel.
Catheryne – Another elaborate spelling.
Cathleen – The Irish variant of Kathleen.
Cato – “All-knowing” – A Roman statesman’s name, crisp and strong for a girl.
Catori – “Spirit” – A beautiful Hopi name.
Cayenne – The spicy pepper, a fiery and bold name.
Cayetana – “From Gaeta” – A distinctive Spanish place-name.
Cecelia – A common spelling variant of Cecilia.
Cedar – The strong, aromatic tree – a unisex nature name.
Celebrate – An exuberant and joyous word name.
Celesta – “Heavenly” – A variant of Celeste, also a musical instrument.
Celestiel – An invented elaboration of Celeste.
Cerelia – “Relating to the spring” – A rare and seasonal name.
Ceridwen – “Beautiful poetry” – The Welsh goddess of poetry and magic.
Cerulean – “Sky blue” – A vivid and artistic color name.
Chance – “Good fortune” – A unisex word name full of optimism.
Chanel – “Pipe, channel” – The iconic French fashion house name.
Channery – A modern invented surname-style name.
Chantrea – “Moonlight” – A beautiful Cambodian name.
Chantria – A modern invented name.
Charisma – “Divine favor, gift” – A modern virtue name.
Charleigh – A modern feminine spelling of Charlie.
Charley – The friendly unisex nickname, casual and cool.
Chavelle – A modern invented name, perhaps blending Chava and Elle.
Chavonne – A variant of Chevonne.
Chenille – The soft fabric, a cozy and textured name.
Cherith – A biblical place-name meaning “cutting.”
Cheyenne – A Native American tribal name, evoking the Great Plains.
Chiamaka – “God is beautiful” – An Igbo name.
Chloe – Repeated for its evergreen, verdant appeal.
Christiana – “Follower of Christ” – The elaborate and regal feminine form.
Christina – “A Christian” – The classic form.
Chrysanthemum – “Gold flower” – The full, magnificent floral name.
Chrysantha – “Golden flower” – A more manageable Greek form.
Cianna – A modern name, possibly a blend of Sienna and Gianna.
Ciela – A shortened form of Cielo or an invented name.
Cielle – A French-influenced variant of Ciel.
Cimorene – A literary name from Patricia C. Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles.
Cinira – A rare name of uncertain origin.
Cirilla – An elaboration of Ciri or a variant of Cyriilla.
Citlali – “Star” – A beautiful Nahuatl (Aztec) name.
Citrine – The yellow quartz gemstone, bright and sunny.
Clair de Lune – “Moonlight” – The full, poetic French phrase as an artistic name.
Claramay – A vintage compound of Clara and May.
Clarinda – An elaborate, poetic form of Clara.
Clarine – A delicate variant of Claire.
Clarity – Repeated for its modern, luminous appeal.
Claudia – “Lame, enclosure” – An ancient Roman clan name, sophisticated and strong.
Clover – Repeated for its lucky, cheerful charm.
Cobie – A unisex nickname, possibly for Jacob, made known by actress Cobie Smulders.
Colbie – A variant spelling, known from singer Colbie Caillat.
Colette – Repeated for its Parisian chic.
Columbia – “Dove” – A poetic name for the Americas and a place-name.
Comfort – “Solace” – An old Puritan virtue name, warm and rare.
Connelly – “Love, friendship” – A melodic Irish surname-name.
Consuela – “Consolation” – The Spanish form of Consuelo.
Consuelo – “Consolation, comfort” – A beautiful Spanish virtue name.
Coral – Repeated for its oceanic beauty.
Cordova – A Spanish place-name, sleek and geographic.
Corisande – “Charming heart” – A rare and gorgeous name of literary origin.
Corvette – The sports car, a fast and sleek name.
Cosette – “Little thing” – The beloved literary name from Les Misérables.
Cove – “Small bay” – A peaceful, watery nature name.
Crescent – “Growing, increasing” – A moon-shaped word name.
Cricket – Repeated for its quirky, lively sound.
Crimson – Repeated for its deep, luxurious color.
Crisanta – “Golden flower” – A Spanish form of Chrysantha.
Cristabel – A variant of Christabel.
Cruz – “Cross” – A unisex Spanish surname-name, strong and simple.
Crystelle – A sparkling elaboration of Crystal.
Cyane – “Sky blue” – A name from Greek myth.
Cyanna – A modern elaboration of Cyane or an invented name.
Cybill – A variant of Sibyl, known from actress Cybill Shepherd.
Cyd – A stylish short form, popularized by Cyd Charisse.
Cyn – A sharp, modern short form of Cynthia.
Why Choose a Unique “C” Name for Your Daughter?
A unique “C” name offers the perfect blend of familiar sound and distinctive character. The “C” sound is classic and approachable, while the names themselves can be rare gems that stand out. They allow for individuality without being overly obscure or difficult to pronounce. Whether drawn from myth (Calliope, Calypso), nature (Cairn, Clover), or modern invention (Caisley, Caliana), a unique “C” name gives your daughter a beautiful and memorable identity all her own.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a unique name is an act of imagination. It’s about finding a sound and meaning that feels special to you. Pair your favorite with your last name and see how it sings. Does Cordelia Maeve sound poetic and strong? Does Caliana Jade feel modern and bright? Perhaps the mythological Calliope Sage or the serene Cove Isabella captures the spirit you envision. Whether you choose the artistic Colette, the nature-inspired Clementine, the strong Carter, or the celestial Celeste, a unique “C” name is a gift of individuality and beauty for your daughter’s journey.
