Dog Names That Start With C

  1. Charley
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Charlie, French
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Charlie and its many forms are on the rise -- including Charley, which relates more directly to the male formal name Charles. Surprisingly, though, while the number of girls and boys named Charlie are nearly even, there are six times as many girls named Charley than boys.
  2. Chrysanthemum
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "gold flower"
    • Description:

      One of the rarest of the flower names, that of the blossom celebrated in Japan as a symbol of the sun and a possible object of meditation. One of the rare flower names counted among names for autumn babies, Chrysanthemum is also one of the most unusual nature-themed girl names starting with C.
  3. Chanel
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the canal"
    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
  4. Carlotta
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Charlotte, French diminutive of Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Carlotta has a large measure of finger-snapping charm and substance — despite being a not too pleasant character in The Little Mermaid. Carlotta is also the diva/prima donna in The Phantom of the Opera, and there was an Empress Carlotta of Mexico.
  5. Clint
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Clinton
    • Description:

      As flinty and steely as Mr. Eastwood.
  6. Chantal
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "stone, boulder"
    • Description:

      Though associated with a French saint noted for her holiness and strength of character, this name is somewhat dated and it might be better to look to one of the more modern names popular for little girls in France today: Oceane, Lea, Manon.
  7. Candy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Candace
    • Description:

      Too sugary sweet and inconsequential for a modern girl.
  8. Coby
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Coburn or Jacob or Jacoby
    • Description:

      Actor Coby Bell gives this short but sweet name a hefty amount of street cred. Can also be spelled Koby or Kobe, as in Kobe Bryant.
  9. Ciel
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "sky"
    • Description:

      Heavenly French word name used for both sexes.
  10. Clove
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.
  11. Crue
    • Origin:

      Variation of Crew, English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a band or force of armed men"
    • Description:

      Crew x True = Crue. This on-trend name — short and punchy with popular sounds —is rising for a reason. Crue entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, following in the footsteps of trendy Crew and Cruz. It continued to be a fast rising choice in 2023,when it was given to around 360 babies, making it roughly three times less popular than Crew, but also three times more popular than it was a decade ago.
  12. Choji
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "second butterfly"
    • Description:

      Ethereal Japanese boy name.
  13. Clarke
    • Origin:

      Variation of Clark
    • Description:

      A rising choice for girls that fits in with tailored surnames such as Sloane, Greer, and Blair.
  14. Chandler
    • Origin:

      English from French occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "candle maker"
    • Description:

      In the US, well over 200 girls were named Chandler in 2016, its first year on the girls' list since 2002. To us it is still inextricably tied to the Friends character, making it more masculine than it otherwise might be. But it's one of the trendy boy names for girls that's climbing the ladder.
  15. Cali
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of any Cal- name
    • Description:

      A short form that is given on its own to a good number of baby girls each year — Cali has been on trend in recent years along with sister names Callie and Kali, as the popular 90s and early 2000s nickname Allie has felt less fresh. The Cali spelling in particular also brings to mind the sunny state of California and all of the beachy imagery that follows.
  16. Clancy
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Irish surnames are hot, and this one can successfully cross the line to work for girls, replacing the outdated Casey. And only a dozen girls were named Clancy in the US in one recent year (along with 27 boys), making it one of those rare Irish names that are both accessible and distinctive, classic and cool. Clancy is a winner for either gender.
  17. Crisanta
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "golden flower, chrysanthemum"
    • Description:

      Crisanta, while not related to Christine, would make a pretty and highly unusual alternative to that tried-and-true name. Because of its relationship to the chrysanthemum, the flower of the month of November, it's one of the recommended names for Scorpio babies as well as names for November babies. Crisanta might also give you a fresh route to nicknames like Cris, Crissy, or Cristie.
  18. Clarke
    • Origin:

      Variation of Clark
    • Meaning:

      "scribe, clerk"
    • Description:

      While Clark ranks in the Top 500 for boys, the Clarke spelling leans towards the girls' side. Regardless, the name works well for either sex.
  19. Chaya
    • Origin:

      Feminization of Chayyim or Chaim, Hebrew, Hindi, "life; shadow, shade"
    • Meaning:

      "life; shadow, shade"
    • Description:

      A life-affirming name of Hebrew origin, currently popular in Israel, Chaya has also risen up the charts in both the US and the UK in recent years. Used as a common name for leafy shrub in Mexico, it shares the same root as Chava, Eve, and Eva.
  20. Calico
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "cotton cloth imported from India; a blotched or spotted animal"
    • Description:

      A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago.