Boy Names That Start with C
294 namesBoy
C names for boys cover a wide range of sounds. Most of the names here use the hard k sound, as in Caleb, Carter and Cole, while Charles and Chase open with the softer ch. That variety lets you choose between a crisp, strong start and something a little warmer, and it is worth noting that several names on this list also have spellings with K.
The classics include Christopher and Christian, both built on Greek roots tied to the Christian faith, and Charles, from a Germanic word meaning free man, with Carlos as its Spanish form. Caleb is a Hebrew name carried by one of the scouts sent into Canaan in the Book of Numbers. Alongside these sit many names drawn from English and Irish surnames. Carter originally described someone who drove a cart, Cooper a maker of barrels, and Connor comes from an old Irish name. Camden and Colton began as English place names, and Carson and Cameron have Scottish surname roots.
When choosing, think about nicknames. Christopher and Cameron shorten easily, while Cole and Chase are already brief. If your surname begins with a hard k sound, a C name can create strong alliteration, which some families love and others avoid. Caden also has several spellings in common use, so decide early which one you prefer.
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All 294 names
Sorted by current popularity. US rank uses 2025 data for the name's most common sex; the trend compares births with five years earlier. Tap a column heading to re-sort.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | US rank 2025 | 5-yr trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher | bearing Christ | Greek | 68 | ↓ -24% |
| Carter | transporter of goods by cart | English | 45 | ↓ -20% |
| Christian | follower of Christ | Latin | 96 | ↓ -29% |
| Caleb | dog; often read as wholehearted | Hebrew | 58 | ↓ -7% |
| Cameron | crooked nose | Scottish | 76 | ↓ -14% |
| Charles | free man | Germanic | 48 | ↓ -6% |
| Connor | lover of hounds | Irish | 166 | ↓ -50% |
| Cooper | barrel maker | English | 27 | ↑ +63% |
| Colton | from an English place name | English | 103 | ↓ -32% |
| Chase | hunter | English | 192 | ↓ -36% |
| Carson | uncertain; Scottish surname | Scottish | 124 | ↓ -31% |
| Carlos | free man | Spanish | 150 | → -2% |
| Cole | from an English surname | English | 182 | ↓ -28% |
| Camden | enclosed valley | Old English | 205 | ↓ -26% |
| Caden | modern name; possibly from an Irish surname | American (modern coinage) | 201 | ↑ +17% |
| Colin | young dog; or a form of Nicholas | Scottish | 343 | ↓ -19% |
| Calvin | bald | French | 132 | ↑ +7% |
| Cody | from an Irish surname | Irish | 318 | ↓ -5% |
| Cayden | modern form of Caden | American (modern coinage) | 414 | ↓ -40% |
| Cristian | follower of Christ | Spanish | 362 | ↓ -8% |
| Collin | victory of the people (via Nicholas) | English | 493 | → -4% |
| Conner | lover of hounds (variant of Connor) | Irish | 864 | ↓ -59% |
| Cesar | uncertain (from Caesar) | Spanish | 385 | → -2% |
| Clayton | clay settlement | Old English | 300 | → -4% |
| Chance | good fortune | English | 442 | ↓ -41% |
| Corbin | little raven | French | 512 | ↓ -36% |
| Cash | money; also an English surname | English | 287 | ↓ -9% |
| Colt | young horse | English | 285 | ↓ -30% |
| Cohen | priest | Hebrew | 225 | ↑ +34% |
| Caiden | uncertain; modern variant of Kaden | American (modern coinage) | 602 | ↓ -41% |
| Cruz | cross | Spanish | 331 | ↓ -7% |
| Cade | from an English surname; round, lumpy | English | 248 | ↑ +69% |
| Corey | from an Irish surname | Irish | 778 | ↓ -39% |
| Colby | from an English place name | English | 615 | → +4% |
| Cyrus | uncertain; name of a Persian king | Persian | 268 | ↑ +52% |
| Callum | dove | Scottish | 118 | ↑ +209% |
| Clark | clerk, scribe | English | 377 | ↑ +6% |
| Crew | group working together | English | 256 | ↑ +14% |
| Conor | lover of hounds | Irish | 845 | ↓ -61% |
| Chris | short form of Christopher or Christian | English | 646 | ↑ +13% |
| Callan | uncertain; from an Irish or Scottish surname | Irish | 190 | ↑ +179% |
| Curtis | courteous | French | 985 | ↓ -36% |
| Colten | from an English place name | American (modern coinage) | 966 | ↓ -26% |
| Cairo | the victorious | Arabic | 341 | ↑ +5% |
| Cason | modern name; possibly from a surname | American (modern coinage) | 846 | ↓ -26% |
| Cannon | from an English surname; clergyman | English | 722 | ↓ -28% |
| Callen | uncertain; from a surname | Irish | 516 | ↑ +10% |
| Colson | son of Cole | English | 311 | ↑ +22% |
| Conrad | bold counsel | German | 417 | ↑ +49% |
| Colter | colt herder; from an English surname | English | 157 | ↑ +965% |
| Case | from an English surname | English | 733 | ↓ -26% |
| Cullen | from an Irish surname | Irish | 1,108 | ↓ -48% |
| Carl | free man | German | 1,134 | ↓ -35% |
| Cassius | uncertain (Roman family name) | Latin | 583 | ↓ -16% |
| Cory | — | Irish | 1,245 | ↓ -35% |
| Clay | clay | English | 573 | ↑ +24% |
| Carmelo | from Mount Carmel; garden | Italian | 712 | ↑ +9% |
| Chaim | life | Hebrew | 666 | ↑ +6% |
| Chad | uncertain; possibly 'battle' | Old English | 1,701 | ↓ -36% |
| Camron | crooked nose (variant of Cameron) | Scottish | 2,059 | ↓ -37% |
| Callahan | descendant of Ceallachán | Irish | 227 | ↑ +444% |
| Cayson | modern coinage with -son ending | American (modern coinage) | 835 | ↓ -16% |
| Casen | modern variant of Casey | American (modern coinage) | 842 | ↓ -12% |
| Camilo | uncertain; form of Camillus | Spanish | 585 | ↑ +95% |
| Crosby | village with a cross | English | 1,235 | ↓ -44% |
| Cedric | uncertain; popularized by Walter Scott | English | 1,051 | ↓ -6% |
| Cristopher | bearing Christ | Spanish | 1,426 | ↓ -14% |
| Clyde | from the River Clyde | Scottish | 743 | → +1% |
| Craig | rock, crag | Scottish | 1,644 | ↓ -32% |
| Cain | acquired | Hebrew | 1,142 | ↓ -27% |
| Coleman | charcoal burner; or 'little dove' | English | 1,311 | ↓ -27% |
| Camren | crooked nose | Scottish | 2,723 | ↓ -54% |
| Canaan | uncertain; possibly lowland | Hebrew | 1,044 | ↓ -8% |
| Creed | belief, creed | English | 663 | ↑ +40% |
| Coen | bold counsel | Dutch | 1,376 | ↓ -42% |
| Caspian | from the Caspian Sea | English | 491 | ↑ +94% |
| Cillian | uncertain; possibly church or strife | Irish | 507 | ↑ +161% |
| Castiel | angel from the series Supernatural | American (modern coinage) | 1,009 | ↓ -12% |
| Cal | short for Calvin, Callum or Caleb | English | 543 | ↑ +136% |
| Carsen | modern spelling of Carson | American (modern coinage) | 2,185 | ↓ -56% |
| Cristiano | Christian | Italian | 1,288 | ↓ -18% |
| Carlo | free man | Italian | 869 | ↑ +104% |
| Chace | hunter; variant of Chase | American (modern coinage) | 2,772 | ↓ -48% |
| Clinton | from an English place name | English | 1,732 | ↓ -27% |
| Clarence | of Clare; ducal title | English | 1,500 | ↓ -13% |
| Cortez | courteous; from a Spanish surname | Spanish | 1,655 | ↓ -18% |
| Cale | short for Caleb; also a surname | English | 2,722 | ↑ +15% |
| Carmine | from Carmel; also crimson | Italian | 1,035 | ↑ +62% |
| Coby | short for Jacob; supplanter | English | 1,874 | ↓ -38% |
| Cormac | uncertain; possibly 'charioteer' | Irish | 1,298 | → -2% |
| Calum | dove | Scottish | 799 | ↑ +30% |
| Clifford | ford by a cliff | English | 1,352 | → +4% |
| Cassian | from the Roman family name Cassius | Latin | 479 | ↑ +223% |
| Cristobal | bearer of Christ | Spanish | 1,610 | ↓ -7% |
| Cashton | modern blend of Cash and -ton | American (modern coinage) | 1,112 | → -1% |
| Cian | ancient, enduring | Irish | 1,310 | ↑ +25% |
| Cael | — | Irish | 1,945 | ↑ +55% |
| Chosen | chosen | English | 555 | ↑ +366% |
| Corbyn | little raven (variant of Corbin) | English | 2,263 | ↓ -47% |
| Cristofer | bearer of Christ | Spanish | 1,935 | ↓ -11% |
| Canyon | canyon, a deep valley | English | 1,604 | ↓ -9% |
| Coy | shy, quiet | English | 1,451 | → -3% |
| Cornelius | uncertain; possibly 'horn' | Latin | 1,908 | ↓ -26% |
| Crue | uncertain; modern word-style name | American (modern coinage) | 797 | ↑ +90% |
| Coleson | son of Cole or Nicholas | English | 844 | ↑ +56% |
| Cartier | from a French surname; origin uncertain | French | 1,297 | ↓ -20% |
| Corban | offering to God | Hebrew | 3,327 | ↓ -43% |
| Cordell | cord maker | English | 1,977 | ↓ -14% |
| Casper | treasurer | Dutch | 924 | ↑ +67% |
| Caysen | modern blend of Cay and -sen | American (modern coinage) | 1,339 | → 0% |
| Carver | woodcarver | English | 1,499 | → -2% |
| Chaz | short for Charles, free man | English | 4,568 | ↓ -71% |
| Caius | form of Gaius, perhaps 'rejoice' | Latin | 927 | ↑ +63% |
| Clifton | settlement by a cliff | English | 1,907 | ↓ -27% |
| Cecil | blind | Latin | 1,486 | ↑ +23% |
| Clint | short form of Clinton | English | 2,364 | ↓ -56% |
| Canon | rule, standard | English | 2,211 | ↓ -44% |
| Constantine | steadfast, constant | Latin | 1,573 | ↑ +24% |
| Chayce | hunter | English | 2,805 | ↓ -24% |
| Cam | short form of Cameron, crooked nose | Scottish | 1,395 | ↑ +44% |
| Chozen | respelling of the word chosen | American (modern coinage) | 523 | ↑ +1486% |
| Chester | fortified camp; from an English place | English | 1,588 | ↑ +8% |
| Carlton | settlement of free men | Old English | 2,893 | ↓ -30% |
| Colsen | variant of Colson: son of Cole | American (modern coinage) | 566 | ↑ +579% |
| Calder | rocky water; Scottish place name | Scottish | 1,731 | ↑ +9% |
| Caelan | variant of Caolán, slender | Irish | 2,892 | ↓ -8% |
| Cayde | variant of Cade | American (modern coinage) | 1,409 | ↓ -19% |
| Cy | short form of Cyrus or Cyril | English | 2,540 | ↓ -20% |
| Carmello | variant of Carmelo, from Mount Carmel | Italian | 2,845 | → -2% |
| Cru | French wine term, growth | French | 1,611 | ↓ -13% |
| Caeden | variant of Caden | American (modern coinage) | 3,675 | ↓ -27% |
| Ciaran | little dark one | Irish | 1,609 | ↑ +52% |
| Carsten | Low German form of Christian | German | 4,272 | ↓ -55% |
| Calen | uncertain, possibly variant of Caelan | American (modern coinage) | 3,323 | ↓ -20% |
| Coltin | variant of Colton | American (modern coinage) | 6,193 | ↓ -60% |
| Coltyn | variant of Colton | American (modern coinage) | 3,862 | ↓ -36% |
| Caine | variant of Cain, possibly acquired | Hebrew | 2,487 | ↓ -28% |
| Chauncey | from a Norman surname | French | 4,422 | ↓ -38% |
| Clive | cliff, slope | Old English | 2,398 | → +4% |
| Coleton | variant of Colton | American (modern coinage) | 8,383 | ↓ -44% |
| Caesar | Roman family name; possibly hairy | Latin | 2,843 | → -4% |
| Christofer | variant of Christopher: bearer of Christ | Greek | 4,569 | ↓ -31% |
| Colston | surname meaning Kol's town | English | 1,933 | ↑ +40% |
| Chayton | often said falcon (Lakota) | Native American | 4,423 | ↓ -28% |
| Claudio | Italian and Spanish form of Claudius: lame | Italian | 3,677 | ↓ -32% |
| Conway | from a Welsh place name | Welsh | 1,287 | ↑ +114% |
| Chancellor | from the official title chancellor | English | 4,421 | ↓ -57% |
| Cedrick | variant of Cedric | English | 3,324 | ↑ +9% |
| Conan | little hound | Irish | 1,678 | ↑ +56% |
| Creighton | surname from a Scottish place name | Scottish | 3,774 | ↓ -40% |
| Cornell | surname from Cornelius or Cornwall | English | 6,194 | ↓ -61% |
| Croix | cross | French | 2,334 | ↓ -11% |
| Crawford | crow ford, a Scottish place name | Scottish | 2,097 | ↑ +19% |
| Corben | variant of Corbin, raven | English | 5,247 | ↓ -47% |
| Cylas | variant of Silas, of the forest | Latin | 2,188 | ↑ +18% |
| Caison | blend of Kai with -son ending | American (modern coinage) | 2,307 | ↓ -16% |
| Chasen | variant of Chase, "hunter" | English | 4,273 | ↓ -29% |
| Cutter | occupational surname for a cloth cutter | English | 2,685 | ↑ +41% |
| Claude | French form of Claudius, "lame" | French | 3,044 | ↓ -9% |
| Clement | merciful, gentle | Latin | 2,262 | ↑ +26% |
| Cross | the cross, or one living by a cross | English | 1,960 | ↑ +26% |
| Cavan | from the Irish county, "hollow" | Irish | 3,456 | ↑ +18% |
| Chet | short for Chester; fortified camp | English | 2,186 | ↑ +41% |
| Cristhian | variant of Christian; follower of Christ | Spanish | 2,187 | ↑ +51% |
| Coda | closing passage in music | Italian | 2,650 | → +2% |
| Cosmo | order, world | Italian | 1,934 | ↑ +33% |
| Cyril | lordly | Greek | 3,143 | ↓ -7% |
| Cache | modern name from cash or French cache | American (modern coinage) | 3,390 | ↑ +127% |
| Carlito | little Carlos; free man | Spanish | 4,731 | ↑ +5% |
| Courtland | land belonging to a court | English | 3,593 | → 0% |
| Cutler | knife maker; English occupational surname | English | 3,097 | ↑ +5% |
| Corwin | surname, possibly heart of the raven | English | 4,424 | ↓ -15% |
| Cayleb | variant of Caleb, uncertain meaning | Hebrew | 8,373 | ↓ -59% |
| Christos | Christ, anointed one | Greek | 3,459 | ↓ -6% |
| Colden | from an English place name | English | 4,277 | ↓ -38% |
| Camdon | variant of Camden, from an English place | English | 9,876 | ↓ -74% |
| Cameren | variant of Cameron, crooked nose | Scottish | 12,356 | new |
| Cortland | from an English surname, uncertain | English | 3,968 | → 0% |
| Chadwick | dairy farm of Chad; English place | English | 4,153 | ↓ -17% |
| Cj | initials, often for names like Christopher James | American (modern coinage) | 3,967 | ↓ -43% |
| Casimir | proclaimer of peace | Polish | 2,039 | ↑ +152% |
| Calin | uncertain; variant of Colin or Romanian name | — | 6,190 | ↓ -39% |
| Camrin | variant of Cameron, crooked nose | Scottish | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cainan | uncertain; biblical patriarch | Hebrew | 3,526 | ↑ +18% |
| Cary | English surname from a place or river | English | 3,676 | ↑ +15% |
| Cayman | from the Cayman Islands; caiman | American (modern coinage) | 5,069 | → 0% |
| Champ | champion | English | 4,154 | ↓ -14% |
| Cage | English surname; cage maker | English | 7,273 | ↓ -48% |
| Christ | anointed one | Greek | 3,392 | ↑ +89% |
| Ceasar | variant of Caesar; possibly hairy | Latin | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cristo | Christ; anointed one | Spanish | 6,532 | ↓ -24% |
| Ciro | form of Cyrus, meaning debated | Italian | 2,894 | ↑ +34% |
| Chason | modern blend of Chase and Jason | American (modern coinage) | 7,771 | ↓ -50% |
| Cort | variant of Kurt; bold counsel | German | 6,195 | ↓ -30% |
| Clemente | merciful, form of Clement | Spanish | 4,571 | ↓ -8% |
| Christan | variant of Christian | Latin | 9,072 | ↑ +14% |
| Caron | French surname, meaning uncertain | French | 12,361 | ↓ -69% |
| Carnell | from a surname, origin uncertain | English | 7,767 | ↓ -41% |
| Cleveland | from an English place name, "hilly land" | English | 7,286 | ↓ -45% |
| Celso | from Celsus, "lofty" | Spanish | 5,431 | ↓ -48% |
| Christain | variant of Christian, "follower of Christ" | American (modern coinage) | 10,926 | ↓ -14% |
| Connell | from Irish Conall, 'strong as a wolf' | Irish | 3,140 | ↑ +23% |
| Cliff | from the English word cliff; short for Clifford | English | 2,895 | ↓ -8% |
| Cord | from the English word cord, or surname | English | 4,738 | ↑ +17% |
| Cris | short form of Christopher or Cristian | Greek | 6,196 | ↑ +40% |
| Cavin | variant of Kevin or Cavan | Irish | 9,061 | ↓ -43% |
| Cuauhtemoc | descending eagle | Nahuatl | 6,887 | ↓ -43% |
| Che | Argentine Spanish interjection, 'hey' | Spanish | 7,773 | ↓ -17% |
| Cass | short form of Cassius or Casimir | Latin | 5,068 | ↓ -21% |
| Chapman | merchant, trader | English | 3,773 | ↑ +81% |
| Carlyle | from the English city Carlisle | English | 4,888 | ↓ -13% |
| Chanse | variant of Chance | English | 9,887 | ↓ -61% |
| Chip | nickname, from chip off the old block | English | 4,274 | ↓ -49% |
| Codey | variant of Cody, an Irish surname | Irish | 12,410 | → 0% |
| Charlton | settlement of free peasants | Old English | 5,902 | ↓ -12% |
| Crispin | curly-haired | Latin | 5,432 | ↑ +21% |
| Cordero | lamb | Spanish | 6,884 | ↓ -29% |
| Chantz | variant of Chance | English | — | ↓ -100% |
| Christon | variant of Christian | Greek | 7,776 | ↓ -17% |
| Corinthian | from Corinth | Greek | 7,783 | → 0% |
| Curran | uncertain; Irish surname | Irish | 9,912 | ↓ -42% |
| Chazz | nickname for Charles or Chase | English | 12,387 | ↓ -29% |
| Cardell | uncertain; English surname | English | 9,056 | new |
| Christion | variant of Christian | Greek | — | ↓ -100% |
| Celestino | heavenly | Italian | 3,860 | ↑ +65% |
| Coty | variant of Cody | American (modern coinage) | 8,389 | ↓ -25% |
| Christien | variant of Christian | Greek | — | ↓ -100% |
| Corbett | little raven | English | 7,781 | ↓ -38% |
| Cecilio | from Caecilius, Roman family name | Spanish | 8,374 | ↓ -47% |
| Constantino | steadfast, constant | Italian | 4,737 | ↑ +31% |
| Colvin | uncertain; English surname | English | 12,411 | ↓ -29% |
| Cipriano | from Cyprus | Spanish | 6,526 | → 0% |
| Collen | uncertain, Welsh saint's name | Welsh | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cyle | variant of Kyle | Scottish | 8,394 | ↑ +80% |
| Chadrick | modern blend of Chad and -rick | American (modern coinage) | 10,916 | ↓ -33% |
| Christoph | bearing Christ | German | 6,525 | ↑ +30% |
| Cornelio | Spanish form of Cornelius, possibly horn | Spanish | 6,529 | ↑ +44% |
| Curt | short form of Curtis or Kurt | English | — | ↓ -100% |
| Conrado | Spanish form of Conrad, bold counsel | Spanish | 8,387 | ↑ +12% |
| Candido | white, pure | Spanish | 10,900 | new |
| Cosme | Spanish form of Cosmas, order | Spanish | 6,885 | ↑ +50% |
| Colman | little dove | Irish | 9,076 | new |
| Cosimo | order, beauty | Italian | 5,654 | ↑ +60% |
| Clovis | famous battle | Germanic | 4,735 | ↑ +162% |
| Candelario | from Candelaria, Candlemas | Spanish | 7,277 | ↑ +83% |
| Christophe | French form of Christopher, bearing Christ | French | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cirilo | form of Cyril, lordly | Spanish | 10,929 | new |
| Corry | uncertain; variant of Corey | Irish | — | ↓ -100% |
| Chauncy | variant of Chauncey, a Norman surname | English | — | new |
| Carroll | uncertain; Irish surname | Irish | — | new |
| Chuck | nickname for Charles | English | 8,381 | ↑ +80% |
| Cliffton | variant of Clifton, town by a cliff | English | 10,932 | ↑ +20% |
| Catarino | Spanish masculine of Catarina | Spanish | 12,370 | ↓ -44% |
| Chan | Chinese surname; meaning varies | Chinese | 9,885 | new |
| Curry | Irish or Scottish surname | Irish | 9,085 | ↑ +33% |
| Chas | short for Charles, free man | English | 12,383 | new |
| Cletus | short for Anacletus, called forth | Greek | 8,382 | ↑ +12% |
| Cleon | glory | Greek | 9,900 | new |
| Channon | possibly a variant of Shannon | Irish | — | new |
| Cornelious | variant of Cornelius | Latin | — | new |
| Calvert | calf herder | Old English | 10,897 | ↓ -40% |
| Correy | variant of Corey | Irish | — | new |
| Curtiss | variant of Curtis, courteous | French | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cesario | from Caesar | Latin | — | new |
| Carlon | uncertain; English surname | English | — | new |
| Columbus | dove | Latin | — | new |
| Casimiro | Spanish form of Casimir | Spanish | 10,908 | new |
| Chadd | variant of Chad | Old English | — | new |
| Cheyne | surname, possibly oak | Scottish | — | new |
| Claiborne | clay stream | English | — | new |
| Carleton | settlement of free men | Old English | — | new |
| Corby | from an English place name | Old Norse | 12,417 | new |
| Clemens | German form of Clement, merciful | German | — | ↓ -100% |
| Cornel | form of Cornelius | Latin | — | new |
| Cicero | chickpea | Latin | 12,400 | → 0% |
| Charon | ferryman of the dead | Greek | — | new |
| Clem | short form of Clement | Latin | — | new |
| Cleve | short form of Cleveland | Old English | — | new |
| Collis | surname, origin uncertain | English | — | new |
| Carlis | uncertain; perhaps from Carl or Carlos | American (modern coinage) | — | new |
| Casimer | variant of Casimir | Polish | — | new |
| Clarance | variant of Clarence | Latin | — | new |
| Cleophus | variant of Cleophas, glory of the father | Greek | — | new |
| Chalmers | son of the chamberlain | Scottish | — | new |
| Claud | variant of Claude | Latin | — | new |
| Cephus | variant of Cephas, rock | Aramaic | — | new |
| Curley | nickname for curly hair | English | — | new |
| Cloyd | uncertain, possibly from Lloyd or Floyd | American (modern coinage) | — | new |
| Cletis | variant of Cletus | Greek | — | new |
| Chalmer | from Chalmers, chamber attendant | Scottish | — | new |
| Clemon | variant of Clement, merciful | English | — | new |
| Colon | Spanish form of Columbus, dove | Spanish | — | new |
| Colonel | military rank used as a name | English | — | new |
| Clell | uncertain; short form of a surname | American (modern coinage) | — | new |