Cace

Strong, ultramasculine, and modern, Cade shot up the popularity lists around the millennium—it was as high as Number 201 in 2001—along with cousins Caden and Cale, and has drifted along in the middle of the US Top 1000 ever since. 

 Like Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, Melanie, and Beau, Cade was worn by a character in Gone With the Wind.
There's a Cade Skywalker in the Star Wars universe, and Keith Carradine named his now-grown son Cade.

Cade

Caden is a key member of the rhyming contingent that includes Aiden, Jayden, Kayden, Brayden et al. It may derive from the Celtic Cadan or Irish Cathán, both from the same root meaning "battle". It is also possible it comes from Cade, meaning "round" or "barrel".

While Caden in this spelling achieves the golden mean of being familiar but not overly popular, ranking consistently in the middle of the Top 1000, there are so many similar names in widespread use that you're sure to hear it more than you might think.

Considering all the spellings together, Caden (and Kayden and Kaiden and Cayden) ranks Number 13 in the US, according to our Playground Analysis.

Caden

One of the cute diminutives that's in vogue in Wales... or could be an alternative spelling of Kaydie.

Cadi

Cadie

Cady is one of those names that sounds popular but is actually rare in this form, given to only a few dozen baby girls in the US last year.

Its origins are unclear, and as many possible meanings and origins are cited as there are sources on the web. It may relate to male names Cade, which means round or barrel, or Caden, meaning battle. The similar Caddie is an antiquated nickname for Caroline.

One disadvantage is that Cady will forever be misunderstood as Katie. Advantage: It can be used, perhaps in the middle place, to honor women's rights leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Cady

Cai, as distinguished from the boys' name Kai, is international, simple, unusual.

Caia Caecilia was the Roman Goddess of fire and women.  The name Caia would make a truly fresh alternative to the flagging Maya, with which it rhymes.

Caia

Caiden

While the Cailin spelling doesn't appear on popularity charts, other forms such as Kaylin and Kaylen do, along with several similar names, from Caitlin to Jalen to Kayla. The result: a name that feels more common than it actually is. 

Cailin

Cailyn

Cailynn

Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and Adam's firstborn, was a farmer - making this a good choice for those with farming connections. Long outshone by Abel, Cain is starting to find a broader audience, helped along by homophones Kane or Caine.

Cain

Cait, pronounced like more popular sister Kate, is the form used when shortening Caitlin or any of the other Irish and Gaelic Cait-starting variations of Catherine.

Cait

An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity in the space of a decade. The original name was gradually eclipsed by its myriad spelling variations -- Katelyn and Kaitlyn both soon topping it on the popularity lists.
 Now, most forms of Caitlin, including this most-authentic one, have started to dip, though there have been thousands of girls named Caitlin -- and Katelyn and Kaitlyn ad infinitum -- every year for the past three decades. So, while Caitlin is certainly one of the loveliest variations of Catherine, it's been overused to the point of semi-retirement, at least in the U.S. Cait might be a short form.
 Actor Breckin Meyer named his daughter Caitlin in 2003. Caitlyn Jenner also brought a renewed fame to the name, though she uses the -lyn variation.

Caitlin

Caitline

Caitlyn is following all variations on the Irish classic Caitlin down the US baby name charts, following decades of popular usage. The original Anglicized form Kathleen is now starting to feel fresher than these more modern forms. 

 Transgender athlete and former Kardashian spouse Caitlyn Jenner chose this spelling for her post-transition name in 2015.

Caitlyn

Caitlynn

The original Irish spelling of Caitlin, the name that launched a thousand spelling variations.

Caitlín

Both Caitriona and Catriona are commonly heard in Scotland and Ireland. The name was brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans, and is the source of nicknames Cait, Caitin, Caitlin and Triona. Actress Caitrona Balfe has gained recognition for her role on Outlander. Pronunciation is like Katrina.

Caitriona

A Danish variant of Kaja (Kaya) or a Cornish word name derived from kaja "daisy".

Caja

Cali

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.

As 90s and early 2000s favorite Allie is starting to fall, Callie is feeling extra fresh. Callie is a nickname name that is currently more popular on its own than any of its longer versions. 

Callie was popular in the late 1800s when it was in the Top 200 for several years. However the name fell out of favor, eventually falling off the charts for some time. Callie has been rising again since the 70s, and it is now back in the Top 200 once again.

In the popular show Grey's Anatomy, doctor Callie Torez's full name is the Greek Calliope.

Callie

From the botanical name for common heather, Calluna vulgaris, which ultimately derives from the Greek kallos "beauty". A unique, nature-inspired route to the fashionable nicknames Callie and Luna.

Calluna

Cane

Casia

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge.  Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

Cataleya is the name of a genus of orchids that gained visibility as a baby name after it was used for the character played by Zoe Saldana in Colombiana. Part Caitlin, part Aaliyah, and part Leah, Cataleya is a trendy choice that just might transcend its momentary popularity. It is a spelling adaptation of Cattleya, named after the British horticulturalist William Cattley.

Cataleya

Cataleyah wins notice as one of the trendiest names of all time, rising quickly through the ranks inspired by the Zoe Saldana character in Colombiana and also the name of a genus of orchids.

Cataleyah

This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin. 
 Santa Catalina of Siena was, along with Saint Francis, one of the two patron saints of Italy and was a respected spiritual writer of the Church. Catalina de Aragón y Castilla is the original Spanish name of the first wife of Henry VIII, known to history as Catherine of Aragon. In a completely different vein, Catalina Aruca was a character on the sitcom My Name is Earl.

Catalina

Catalyna

One of the most popular names of all time in Portugal and Brazil, with a romantic, lively sound. The main risk is confusion with other names that sound similar: Catalina, Katrina, and so forth. Caterina, with an "e," is more common in Italy.

Catarina

Time was, even C-starting Catherines who called themselves Kate spelled it with a K, but Cate Blanchett changed all.  Cate is now as acceptable as (but not as well used as) Kate. Cait might be short for Caitlin.

Cate

This spelling of Caitlin is closely associated with Game of Thrones matriarch Catelyn Stark, whose name is pronounced CAT-lin on the show.

Catelyn

If your ancestry is Italian, you may want to consider this elegant twist on a classic. 

Caterina

Catherina

Catherine is one of the oldest and most consistently well-used <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls’ names</a>, with endless variations and nicknames. The Catherine form feels more gently old-fashioned and feminine than the more popular K versions. Most stylish nickname for Catherine right now: Kate...or Cate, a la Blanchett. 
 
While the popularity of the Catherine form has been waning in favor of Katherine with a K, we think that might turn around since Catherine Middleton, who reportedly hates the name Kate and never uses it, became the wife of Prince William and put a modern, stylish gloss on her already classy name.
 The Catherine spelling was a Top 100 name until the millennium; it reached as high as Number 18 in the 19-teens.
 Catherine has been well used throughout history for saints (one of whom, Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of philosophers, students, craftsmen, nurses,and librarians), queens, and commoners alike.
 Catherine has also been associated with some of the great romantic heroines of literature, including Heathcliff's love in Wuthering Heights and the passionate nurse Catherine Barkley in Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.
 And if your're wondering why all those interchangeable C's and K's, it's because when the name was introduced into Anglo-Saxon Britain, Catherine was spelled with a C because the letter K did not yet exist in the English alphabet.
 Parents may also want to consider one of the attractive foreign variations, such as Caterina.

Catherine

Cathleen

Cathlin

Cathlyn

Cathlynn

Cathryn

One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties -- and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? -- now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.

Cathy

The Welsh version of Katie... if it's not too catty for you.

Cati

Catie

In botany, a catkin is a long, thin flower cluster found on trees such as willow, hazel, oak and birch. The word derives from Middle Dutch katteken "kitten", due to the resemblance to a kitten's furry tail.

Catkin

Catlin

Catlyn

Catlynn

Cato may have risen to new prominence in the English speaking world as an ancient Roman boys' name, popularized by The Hunger Games. But in the Netherlands, it's most widely used as a short form for Catharina and other forms of Katherine, ranking close to the Top 100, higher than any formal variation of the name.

Cato for a girl is a cute idea and a fresh way to shorten the ubiquitous Catherine.

Cato

The sweet and simple Welsh form of Katherine, long popular in Wales but dropping down the popularity charts now. As a German name, it's a short form of Katharina.

Catrin

An alternative spelling of Katy, if you're more of a C person.

Caty

There were no baby boys named Cay born in the US last year, but there's no reason why there couldn't be, especially with the rise in popularity of the similar Kai as well as the nouveau proper names Cayden, Cayson and so on. Cay Dose was an 18th century German architect and Christian Cay Lorenz Hirschfeld was a German garden historian of the same era.

Cay is a rare respelling of the retro nickname Kay but one that may gain ground as a name that's both simple and unique. Like Kay, it can be a diminutive for any of the hundreds of Catherine variations that start with a C or of more modern names such as Caylee or Cadence. Or it can stand on its own as a sleek contemporary nickname-name.

Cayden is one of the many spellings of this popular name, made all the more popular when they're counted together. According to our annual <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/2023-playground-analysis">playground analysis</a>, sound-wise at least, Cayden is the 13th most popular name in the US, given to more than 10,600 baby boys.

Kayden is the most popular variation of the name, while Cayden is the fourth choice, ranking around the #300 mark, and given to more than 1000 babies each year. It does have the advantage of looking slightly softer and being closer its Celtic and Irish origins, Cadan and Cathán.

Kevin Costner chose Cayden for his son.

Cayden

Cayden is one of the most popular names for baby boys in the US today, with all spellings together used for over 11,000 baby boys and ranking Number 14 in our Playground Analysis.

Cayden, by contrast, was used for about 35 baby girls, while more than twice as many were named Kayden. These are very small numbers compared to the huge popularity of all versions of the name for boys, but it's not unknown as a girls' name.

Cay or Kay are old school short forms with a very different feel.

Caija

Caisa

Calenah

Cataryna

Catarzyna

Catell

Cateryna

Catja

Catri

Caytlin

Caytlynn

Caytlín

Ceyne

Irish form of Kate, short for Caitlín or Catherine.

Cáit

The American appetite for <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys names</a> starting with the Kay-sound seems unlimited: Think Cason, Kaison, Caiden, Kayden... and Kace. Which somehow hit the Top 1000 for the first time in 2017 and hung on until 2021.

But is this name a single-syllable choice that sounds like the word case or is it a respelled homonym of Casey? Your choice, though we'd warn that either way you go, some people will inevitably take the opposite route.

Kace

As a boys' name, Kace ranked in the Top 1000 from 2017 through 2021, and possible parent name Casey is once again climbing for boys.

For girls, Casey is still hanging on at the bottom of the Top 1000 but variation Kace has not ranked at all. Confusion over whether it's a single syllable name that sounds like case or a homonym for Casey could dissuade some parents with going with this spelling.

Kade is a prime example of the new trend for substituting K's at the beginning of traditionally C-starting names. 

Kade

A popular member of the -ayden family, Kaden ranks alongside Kaiden, Kayden, Kasen, Kade, Caiden, Cade, and Caden in the US Top 1000. A 90s invention that took off in the 2000s, Kaden is concise and modern, with its popular K initial. 

The name is possibly derived from the Celtic and Irish given name Cadan, meaning "battle", however, it is equally likely to have been inspired by the Old English surname Cade, meaning "round" or "gentle", which rose to popularity just a few years before the Kaden family.
 
Recent namesakes include English footballer Kaden Rodney, Australian cyclist Kaden Groves, influencer Kaden Hammond, and American footballers Kaden Smith and Kaden Elliss. 
 
Kaden ranks at the latter end of the US Top 300, and is given to over 1100 babies every year. However, because of the number of different spelling variants,<a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/2023-playground-analysis">playground analysis</a> suggests that sound-wise at least, it might feel more like a Top 20 name.

Kaden

Kadi

Kadie

Kady, though it has an authentic Irish meaning, may also be a variation of Katy short form of Kadence, or combination of initials K. and D. Though Kady is more distinctive, everyone will just hear it as Katy.  

Kady

Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries.
 
In the US, the name Kai is most commonly referred to as being of Hawaiian derivation, meaning "sea." In Europe, Kai is largely considered to have Frisian origin as a diminutive of the name Kaimbe, meaning "warrior", or as a short form of Gerard "brave spear". 
 
Kai is also found as an independent name in African, Chinese, Turkish and Native American cultures. Kai is a strong, evocative multi-cultural name that packs a lot of power in its single syllable. 
 
Famous as the name of the boy enchanted by the fairy-tale Snow Queen, Kai was chosen for her son by actress Jennifer Connelly and as a middle name for son Samuel by Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber. 
 
Kai is popular with Berries as both a first and middle name choice. Perhaps because of its international familiarity, Kai is popular in video games. Its most prominent namesake is Danish-born jazz trombonist Kai Winding.
 
Kai ranks in the US Top 1000 for girls, but is used more than 90 percent of the time for boys. Donald Trump, Jr. has a daughter named Kai Madison and Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai in 2020.

This appealing multi-cultural name, pronounced KYE, is beginning to be used for girls as well as boys. Among its many derivations and meanings: "sea" in Hawaiian, "forgiveness" in Japanese, "willow tree" in Navajo, "food" in Maori, and "earth" in Scandinavian. For girls, it debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2010.

The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as well, or as a Kardashianization of the ancient goddess name Caia.
 Kaia's star has been floating upwards for the past few decades, along with Kai's. And it still has some distance to go, though we don't anticipate it making the Top 10.
 
Kaia Gerber, daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, is now a supermodel in her own right.

Kaia

This version of Kaden is also a popular choice and one of the many <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/k">boys' names starting with k</a> that can also start with a C, as in Caiden, Cayden et al.. Kaiden Alenko is a character in the video game Mass Effect.

Kaiden

Kaija

This name's similarity to Kalani and pretty Hawaiian origin helped catapult it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013.
 Kailani Craine is an Australian figure skater.

Kailani

Kaylin and all of its forms have made many appearances in the Top 1000 in recent years. Kailyn is also the Turkish goddess of crossroads, kings and queens.

Kailyn

Kailynn

Kain

Kaisa

Kait

Kaitlan

Kaitlin is a variation of Caitlin that's on a steep decline; it dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2013, after more than three decades on the list. 


Kaitlin

Equinox-123's list "Names Similar to Kate" of 168 great name ideas: Cace - Kaytlín!