The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz
alt="image 1"/> CHIARA. (kee-AHR-a) Italian, ‘light’ or ‘clear’. Romantic Italian name that’s familiar but not widely used: a winner. Cheara, Chiarra, Kiara, Kiarra.
CHINA. Place name. One of the first and still most striking place names; preferably used in its original spelling. Chinaetta, Chinah, Chinasa, Chinda, Chinea, Chinesia, Chinita, Chinna, Chinwa, Chyna, Chynna.
CHIQUITA. Spanish, ‘little one’. Banana. Chaqueta, Chaquita, Chica, Chickie, Chicky, Chikata, Chikita, Chiqueeta, Chiqueta, Chiquila, Chiquin, Chiquite, Chiquitha, Chiquithe, Chiquitia, Chiquitta.
CHLOE. Greek, ‘young green shoot’. Pretty Greek name found in romantic poetry is in the Top 10, and for several years has been one of the most popular names in England. Chlöe, Chloee, Chloie, Clo, Cloe, Cloei, Cloey, Cloie, Khloe, Khloey, Kloe. International: Chloé (French).
CHLORIS. Greek, ‘pale’. Antiseptic sounding. Caloress, Cloris, Clorissa, Khloris, Kloris.
CHRISTA. German, short form of CHRISTINA. Fading since the 1970s – but still a lovely name.
CHRISTABEL. Latin/French, ‘fair Christian’. Though Isabel is a smash hit, Christabel still sounds slightly like what you’d name a cow. Charystobel, Christabell, Christabella, Christabelle, Christable, Christobel, Chrystabel, Chrystabelle, Cristabel, Cristabella, Cristabelle, Crystabel, Crystabella, Kristabel.
CHRISTIANA. Feminine variation of CHRISTIAN. Not cutting edge, but still graceful and feminine. Christiane, Christianna.
CHRISTINA. Greek, ‘anointed, Christian’. This pretty and feminine classic may be trending downwards, but it’s never out of style. A royal name best used in its full glory. Chris, Chrisa, Chrisie, Chrissa, Chrissee, Chrissta, Chrisstan, Chrissten, Chrissti, Chrisstie, Chrissty, Christa, Christain, Christal, Christalene, Christalin, Christaline, Christall, Christalle, Christalyn, Christan, Christana, Christann, Christanna, Christeen, Christeena, Christella, Christen, Christena, Christene, Christi, Christian, Christiana, Christiann, Christi-Ann, Christianna, Christianne, Christi-Anne, Christianni, Christiaun, Christie, Christiean, Christien, Christiena, Christienne, Christin, Christinaa, Christinan, Christinea, Christini, Christinia, Christinna, Christinnah, Christiona, Christmar, Christum, Christy, Christy-Ann, Christy-Anne, Christyn, Christyna, Christynna, Chrys, Chrysa, Chryssa, Chrysta, Chrystalle, Chrystee, Chrystelle, Chrysten, Chrystena, Chrysti, Chrystie, Chrystina, Chrystine, Chrystle, Chrysty, Chrystyan, Chrystyna, Cris, Crissa, Crissey, Crissie, Crissy, Cristal, Cristeena, Cristelle, Cristi, Cristiann, Cristie, Cryssa, Crysta, Crystene, Crystian, Crystie, Crystin, Crystine, Crystyn, Crystyna, Crystyne, Khrissy, Khristeen, Khristena, Khristine, Kit, Kris, Kristeen, Kristeena, Kristena, Kristi, Kristie, Kristy, Kristyna, Krystina, Krystyna, Teena, Teyna.
CIA. Short form. What’s it short for? Cynthia or most any other C name. But too close to the Central Intelligence Agency.
CIARA. (KEER-a) Irish, ‘black haired’. Very popular in Ireland, more familiar here as the more easily pronounced Keira or Kyra. Ceaira, Ceairah, Ceairra, Cearaa, Cearie, Cearah, Cearra, Ceira, Ceirah, Ceire, Ceiria, Ceirra, Cera, Chiarah, Ciaara, Ciaera, Ciaira, Ciarah, Ciaria, Ciarra, Ciarrah, Cieara, Ciearra, Ciearria, Ciera, Cierra, Cierrah, Cierre, Cierria, Cierro, Cioria, Cyarra, Cyera, Cyerra, Cyerria, Keera, Kira, Searra, Siara. International: Ceara, Ciar (Irish).
CICELY. English variation of CECILIA. Prissy but pretty Victorian name, a surprise choice for comedienne Sandra Bernhard. Cecilie, Cecily, Chilla, Chilli, Cicelia, Cicelie, Ciciley, Cicilia, Cicilie, Cicily, Cile, Cillie, Cilly, Cilka.
Christina’s International Variations
| Irish | Cristin, Cristiona |
| Scottish | Cairistìona, Kirsteen, Kirstie, Kirstin, Kirsty |
| French | Christele, Christine, Crestienne |
| Italian | Cristiana, Cristina |
| Spanish | Crista, Cristiana, Cristina, Cristy |
| German | Christa, Christel, Christiane, Chrystel, Crista, Kerstin, Krista, Kristen, Kristin, Stina, Stine, Tine |
| Danish | Kirsten, Stinne |
| Swedish | Kerstin, Kia, Kolina, Kristina |
| Norwegian | Kjersti, Kjerstin, Kristin, Stina |
| Finnish | Kirsi, Kirsikka, Kristia, Kristiina, Stiina, Tiina |
| Polish | Krysia, Krysta, Krystka, Krystyn, Krystyna, Krystynka |
| Hungarian | Kriska, Kriszta, Krisztina |
| Czech | Crystina, Krista, Kristina, Kristinka, Tyna |
| Bulgarian | Khrustina |
| Russian | Khristina, Khristya, Khrysta, Tina |
| Latvian | Krista, Kristine |
| Estonian | Krista |
|
|