Christian names beginning with C

Meaning: Hebrew "dog" (often interpreted positively as "faithful") or possibly "whole-hearted."

Figure: One of the twelve spies sent by Moses; the faithful spy alongside Joshua (Numbers 13-14).

Caleb is one of the twelve spies Moses sends into Canaan, and one of only two (with Joshua) who urges the people to trust God's promise (Numbers 13-14). The name has come back into significant modern Christian use, particularly in English-speaking Protestant and Evangelical families.

Meaning: Spanish "Carmel" (referring to Our Lady of Mount Carmel) or Latin "song" (carmen); the Christian use is principally Marian.

Figure: Our Lady of Mount Carmel; the Carmelite Marian devotion.

Carmen is one of the most widely used Marian names in Spanish-speaking Catholic tradition, named for Our Lady of Mount Carmel (the Marian devotion at the heart of the Carmelite religious tradition). The Catholic feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is July 16; many Spanish-speaking Catholic women named Carmen celebrate the day as their name day.

Meaning: Greek of contested etymology; possibly from katharos, "pure," or from a pre-Christian Greek name later interpreted as meaning "pure."

Figure: Two principal saints: Catherine of Alexandria (legendary fourth-century martyr); Catherine of Siena (1347-1380, Dominican mystic and Doctor of the Church).

Two principal Catherines are honored across Christian tradition. Catherine of Alexandria (fourth century, by tradition) is the patroness of philosophers and scholars; her feast is November 25. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) is the Dominican mystic, Doctor of the Church, and patron of Europe; her feast is April 29. The name has been in continuous Christian use in its many forms.

Meaning: Latin "blind" (caeca), from the Roman family name Caecilius.

Figure: Roman virgin martyr; patron of music (third century, by tradition).

Saint Cecilia is the Roman virgin and martyr (third century, by tradition) honored as the patron of music. Her name has been in continuous Christian use, with particular weight in musical and ecclesiastical families. The Catholic and Anglican calendars commemorate her on November 22.

Meaning: English "Christian love" or "selfless love" (from Latin caritas, the highest of the theological virtues in 1 Corinthians 13).

Figure: The theological virtue; also the legendary Saint Charity (with Faith and Hope) honored as the daughters of Saint Sophia.

Charity is the English translation of Latin caritas, the highest of the theological virtues in 1 Corinthians 13:13 ("Now abide faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity," in the KJV translation). The name has been in continuous use in English-speaking Protestant families since the Puritan period. The legendary saints Faith, Hope, and Charity (daughters of Saint Sophia / Wisdom) are honored in Orthodox tradition on September 17.

Meaning: Greek/Latin "follower of Christ"; the descriptor Christianos (Acts 11:26) made a given name in later centuries.

Figure: The word for any disciple of Jesus, used as a given name from medieval Europe forward.

The word Christian, used in Acts 11:26 as the name first given to disciples at Antioch, became a given name in medieval Europe and has been in continuous use across the Christian traditions since. Modern English-speaking and Continental European families use the name freely.

Meaning: Latin "follower of Christ" (feminine form of Christianus).

Figure: Multiple saints; Saint Christina of Bolsena (third or fourth century).

The feminine form of Christianus, the name Christina has been in continuous Christian use since the early medieval period. Multiple saints carry the name; Saint Christina of Bolsena (third or fourth century) is the principal one. Modern English-speaking and Continental European families use the name freely in its many forms (Christina, Christine, Christiana, Kristina).

Meaning: French form of Christina; the same Latin/Christian root.

Figure: Multiple saints (see Christina).

Christine is the French form of Christina, both names having the same Latin Christian root meaning "follower of Christ." See the Christina entry for the principal saints honored.

Meaning: Greek "Christ-bearer" (Christos + phoros).

Figure: Saint Christopher; legendary third-century martyr; the giant who carried the Christ Child across a river.

Christopher is the Greek "Christ-bearer," the name and figure of legendary tradition whose carrying of the Christ Child across a river made him the patron saint of travelers. Though the historical figure is doubtful (and his July 25 feast was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969), the devotion to Saint Christopher has continued in Catholic and Orthodox tradition.

Meaning: Latin "clear," "bright," or "famous."

Figure: Saint Clare of Assisi; founder of the Poor Clares (1194-1253).

Saint Clare of Assisi is the thirteenth-century follower of Francis of Assisi who founded the contemplative women's order now called the Poor Clares. She is the patron of television (declared by Pope Pius XII in 1958, on the basis of a tradition that she saw a Christmas Mass projected on the wall of her cell when she was too ill to attend). The Catholic and Anglican calendars commemorate her on August 11.

Meaning: Spanish "Conception," referring to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

Figure: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Concepción is the Marian name referring to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, the Catholic doctrine defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is a major Catholic feast; many Hispanic Catholic women named Concepción celebrate the day as their name day.

Meaning: Latin "constancy" or "steadfastness."

Figure: Multiple saints; the name reflects the Christian virtue.

Constance is the feminine form of the Latin Christian name expressing constancy or steadfastness. Multiple saints carry the name; the name has been in continuous Christian use, particularly in English and French Catholic families.

Meaning: Latin "constant" (Constantinus, Christianized through Emperor Constantine).

Figure: Saint Constantine the Great; first Christian Roman Emperor (c. 272-337).

Constantine the Great is the early-fourth-century Roman Emperor whose Edict of Milan (313) legalized Christianity in the Empire and whose convocation of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325) shaped the Christian doctrinal tradition. Honored in Orthodox tradition as "Equal-to-the-Apostles," with his mother Helena, on May 21. The name has been in continuous Orthodox use.

Meaning: Latin family name of contested etymology; possibly from cornu, "horn."

Figure: Roman centurion baptized by Peter; first Gentile convert (Acts 10).

Cornelius is the Roman centurion of Acts 10 whose baptism by Peter represents the first explicit acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian Church. The same name belonged to Pope Cornelius (251-253 AD), and the Catholic feast on September 16 commemorates them together. The name has been in use in Christian families across the centuries.

Meaning: Cyril: Greek "lordly" (from kyrios, "lord"); Methodius: Greek "method" or "with the path."

Figure: Saints Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (815-885); brothers; Apostles to the Slavs.

Saints Cyril and Methodius are the ninth-century Greek brothers from Thessaloniki who brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples, developing the Glagolitic alphabet (the precursor of the Cyrillic script that bears Cyril's name) and translating the Bible and liturgy into Old Church Slavonic. The Catholic calendar commemorates them on February 14; the Orthodox calendar on May 11. They are co-patrons of Europe (declared with Saint Benedict by Pope John Paul II in 1980).