Boy Dog Names That Start With C

  1. Cassiel
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "angel of Saturday"
    • Description:

      This name of the archangel who protects those born under the sign of Capricorn is one of the most attractive and distinctive December baby names or January baby names. Cassiel is a little-known member of the increasingly popular Cass family, which includes Cassius, Cassian, and Cassia.
  2. Cairo
    • Origin:

      Egyptian place-name, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "the conqueror, the victorious"
    • Description:

      Cairo is an exciting place name possibility with upbeat o ending and an on-trend first syllable. Debuting in the US Top 1000 in 2015, it has been climbing ever since, and, as of 2023, it is given to more than 1000 babies each year.
  3. Caliban
    • Origin:

      Romanian
    • Meaning:

      "black"
    • Description:

      In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban is the name of the deformed son of a witch: not the greatest literary reference for a child. But Caliban does have an appealing international-yet-accessible feel and a rhythmic sound. As long as nobody knows its origin, it might make a great name for a boy or even a girl.
  4. Clifford
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "lives near the ford by the cliff"
    • Description:

      Clifford is beginning to overcome a slightly stodgy intellectual image and showing signs of possible revival. Kids might or might not like the association with the big red dog. In England, the Clifford family was a powerful family in the Middle Ages. In this country, it was well used for most of the twentieth century, peaking at Number 57 in 1909, but a Top 100 name through 1950. Most prominent American bearers: playwright Clifford Odets and jazz trumpet great Clifford Brown.
  5. Cashel
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "castle, stone fort"
    • Description:

      Cashel is one of the many appealing Irish names that have not yet emigrated to the US. Cashel was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller for their son.
  6. Carlisle
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the walled city"
    • Description:

      This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
  7. Craig
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "from the rocks"
    • Description:

      Craig is a single-syllable baby-boomer name, still common in its native Scotland, but most modern Americans would prefer something like Kyle.
  8. Cobalt
    • Origin:

      Color and nature name
    • Description:

      Even among the range of blue names on the current baby naming palette -- Blue itself, Azure, Cerulean, Teal, Aqua, Cyan, Indigo -- Cobalt remains the most unusual, not to mention the most masculine.
  9. Courtney
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "courteous, from the court"
    • Description:

      This courtly old Southern name has several cool male bearers: NFL player Courtney Brown, British jazz musician Courtney Pine, and Barbados-born economist Courtney Blackman, to name but a few.
  10. Cory
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "from the hollow"
    • Description:

      A variation of Corey, this spelling has also been on a steady decline since the early-1990s. Its days are likely numbered on the US popularity charts altogether.
  11. Corwin
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "heart's friend"
    • Description:

      Corwin is an upstanding surname name that has been seen occasionally as a first in literature, but rarely in real life. But maybe with the recent acceptance of Darwin, that might change.
  12. Cypress
    • Origin:

      botanical name
    • Description:

      Lovely entry into the tree name genre, joining Maple, Pine, Oak, and Willow.
  13. Cadmus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "one who excels"
    • Description:

      Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents — especially since Cadmus Peverell is a human Harry Potter character, one of the three original owners of the Deathly Hallows.
  14. Case
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade.
  15. Cliff
    • Origin:

      Topographical name or short form of Clifford or Clifton
    • Description:

      Cliff is a familiar, timeless short form -- never too popular, yet widely known -- that you might also think of as a geographical name ala Vale or Field.
  16. Cassander
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "light of man"
    • Description:

      Cassander is the masculine form of Cassandra, and the name of an ancient king of Macedon from the 3rd century BC. It could make a nice alternative to Alexander or a refreshing way to honour a female relative named Cassie/Cassandra/Sandra.
  17. Chad
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "battle warrior"
    • Description:

      Despite all the "hanging," "dangling," and "pregnant" chad jokes of the 2000 election, this saint's name and remnant of the Brad-Tad era didn't get a boost in popularity. But Chad still holds some surfer-boy appeal for a number of modern parents.
  18. Clovis
    • Origin:

      Teutonic, French, early form of Ludwig or Louis
    • Description:

      An aromatic, unconventional name.
  19. Crash
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Crash is a particularly calamitous entry in the badass boys' name category, taking Wilder and Maverick one -- or maybe a dozen -- steps further. But we can think of at least a dozen reasons you shouldn't name your baby Crash.
  20. Carmelo
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "garden"
    • Description:

      Carmelo is a well-used Hispanic name associated with Mt. Carmel, home of the prophet Elijah and the location of the convent for the order of Carmelites. Carmelo is also a saint's name and — in modern times — tied to basketball player Carmelo Anthony.