# List of biblical names starting with C
Biblical names starting with C are the proper names of people and places in the Bible whose conventional English spelling begins with the letter C, drawn from Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin originals. The best-known single reference for their traditional meanings is Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary, first published in 1869 by Roswell D. Hitchcock, Washburn Professor of Church History at [Union Theological Seminary](https://www.edgepedia.org/union-theological-seminary), New York, which lists meanings for over 2,500 Hebrew names that appear in the Bible[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Standard reference | Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869), over 2,500 Hebrew name meanings[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) |
| Languages behind the C names | Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin; Chloe is Greek, while Cornelius and Claudia are Latin family names[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Spelling note | Many Hebrew names appear in modern lists with an initial Ch rather than C, because the Hebrew letter het is transliterated that way (Chanan, Chananya, Chanokh)[3](https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/biblical-hebrew/letter/c) |
| Most frequent New Testament C name | Christ, 565 occurrences; next come Caesar (30), Capernaum (16), and Caesarea (15)[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html) |
| Old Testament highlights | Caleb, one of the twelve spies (Numbers 13:6), and Cyrus, the Persian king of the return from exile (2 Chronicles 36:22-23)[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Meaning caution | A name's presence in the Bible is different from a claim that its meaning is explicitly explained there[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/) |
## Selected names and traditional meanings
The following table gives a selection of names beginning with C, with Hitchcock's traditional meanings and, where a source supplies them, the original-language form and first biblical appearance.
| Name | Traditional meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cain | possession, or possessed[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | Firstborn son of Adam and Eve; his killing of Abel is recounted in Genesis 4[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Caleb | a dog; a crow; a basket[7](https://www.biblehub.com/concordance/c/caleb.htm) | One of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout Canaan (Numbers 13:6), of the tribe of Judah; rewarded with Hebron[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Canaan | merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | Hebrew כְּנַעַן (Kᵉnaʿan), possibly "lowland" or "purple"; son of Ham, and the promised land, first appearing Genesis 9:18[8](https://mybiblebento.com/biblical-names-list/bible-names-starting-with-c/) |
| Capernaum | the field of repentance; city of comfort[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | Greek Καφαρναούμ (Kapharnaoum), "Village of Nahum"; a town on the Sea of Galilee that served as a base for Jesus' ministry, first appearing Matthew 4:13[8](https://mybiblebento.com/biblical-names-list/bible-names-starting-with-c/) |
| Candace | who possesses contrition[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | Greek Κανδάκη (Kandakē), likely a Meroitic title meaning "queen mother" or "ruling queen"; the queen of Ethiopia whose treasurer was baptized by Philip (Acts 8:27)[8](https://mybiblebento.com/biblical-names-list/bible-names-starting-with-c/) |
| Cephas | a rock or stone[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | The Aramaic name Jesus gave to Simon Peter; 6 New Testament occurrences[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html) |
| Chloe | green herb[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | A Greek name mentioned in 1 Corinthians as the name associated with a household or group[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Claudia | lame[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) | A Latin name; mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21 as a member of the early Christian community[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Cornelius | of a horn[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | A Roman centurion in Acts; a Latin family name[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Crescens | growing; increasing[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | A New Testament figure[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) |
| Crispus | curled[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | A New Testament figure[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) |
| Cush | Cushan, Cushi, Ethiopians; blackness[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | Both a geographical location and a personal name in the Bible[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/) |
| Cyprus | fair; fairness[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | Mediterranean island; 8 New Testament occurrences[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html) |
| Cyrene | a wall; coldness; the floor[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | North African city; 7 New Testament occurrences[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html) |
| Cyrenius | who governs[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | The Roman governor named in Luke's nativity account[6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names) |
| Cyrus | as miserable; as heir[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf) | The Persian king who allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile (2 Chronicles 36:22-23)[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/) |
## The fuller C list from Hitchcock
Hitchcock's C section runs from Cabbon through Cyrus and includes many place and personal names beyond those above. A further sample, with Hitchcock's meanings[1](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf):
- **Colhozeh**, every prophet
- **Colosse**, punishment; correction
- **Coniah**, strength of the Lord
- **Corinth**, which is satisfied; ornament; beauty
- **Cosam**, divining
- **Coz**, a thorn
- **Cozbi**, a liar; sliding away
- **Crete**, carnal; fleshly
- **Cuth**, Cuthah, burning
Other reference works extend the list with names Hitchcock's Hebrew-focused dictionary does not cover, such as Caesar, Caiaphas, Calvary, Cilicia, and Christ[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html) • [6](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names).
## Spelling and language issues
**The Ch- problem.** Hebrew has no letter corresponding exactly to English C, so C in biblical names is a transliteration convention. Names that in Hebrew begin with the letter het are often listed in modern references under Ch rather than C: Behind the Name's Biblical Hebrew list for the letter C is composed almost entirely of such forms, including Chanan (חָנָן, Hebrew form of Hanan), Chananya (חֲנַנְיָה, Hebrew form of Hananiah), and Chanokh (חֲנוֹך, Hebrew form of Enoch)[3](https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/biblical-hebrew/letter/c). In Hebrew naming traditions these names begin with a throaty fricative sound, written /χ/[9](https://betteroo.ai/guides/boy-names-that-start-with-c/).
**Mixed origins.** Not every name in an English C list is Hebrew. Chloe comes from Greek and [Cornelius](https://www.edgepedia.org/cornelius) and Claudia from Latin naming traditions, so a reader looking for a name specifically from the [Hebrew Bible](https://www.edgepedia.org/hebrew-bible), the [New Testament](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-testament), or a particular tradition should check the relevant passage and translation[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/). Some entries are titles rather than personal names: Candace in Acts is a title used for a queen of the Ethiopians[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/), and Caesar is the title of the Roman emperors[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html).
**Uncertain meanings.** Traditional meanings are often debated. For Caleb, Hitchcock gives "a dog; a crow; a basket"[7](https://www.biblehub.com/concordance/c/caleb.htm), Smith's Bible Dictionary gives "capable"[7](https://www.biblehub.com/concordance/c/caleb.htm), and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia argues from cognate Syriac and Arabic that the meaning is not "dog" at all[7](https://www.biblehub.com/concordance/c/caleb.htm). Cyrus is given as an [Old Persian](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-persian) name with uncertain meaning[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/), and the origin of Cilicia is uncertain, though it may derive from a Phoenician or Assyrian term[8](https://mybiblebento.com/biblical-names-list/bible-names-starting-with-c/).
## Notable C names in the biblical narrative
**Caleb** stands out in the [Old Testament](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-testament). He was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to survey Canaan, and unlike the others he trusted in God's promise and advocated taking the land; he was one of the few adults of his generation to survive the desert wanderings and enter the [Promised Land](https://www.edgepedia.org/promised-land), receiving Hebron as his inheritance[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/).
**Cyrus** marks a turning point in [Jewish history](https://www.edgepedia.org/jewish-history). The Persian king's decree allowed the [Israelites](https://www.edgepedia.org/israelites) to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile, permitting the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of worship[5](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/).
**Cornelius** is central to the New Testament expansion beyond Judaism: a Roman centurion in Acts whose story is tied to the admission of Gentiles into the early church[2](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/).
By frequency, the dominant C names of the Greek New Testament are Christ (565 occurrences), Caesar (30), [Capernaum](https://www.edgepedia.org/capernaum) (16), Caesarea (15), [Caiaphas](https://www.edgepedia.org/caiaphas) (9), Cornelius (9), Corinth (8), Cyprus (8), Cilicia (8), Cyrene (7), Crete (7), and Cephas (6)[4](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html).
## References
1. [Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary, Roswell D. Hitchcock, Christian Classics Ethereal Library](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/h/hitchcock/bible_names/cache/bible_names.pdf)
2. [Baby Names That Start With C: Meanings and Origins, NameBrande](https://namebrande.com/baby-names-that-start-with-c/)
3. [Browse Names: Biblical Hebrew, letter C, Behind the Name](https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/biblical-hebrew/letter/c)
4. [New Testament names concordance, Abarim Publications](https://www.abarim-publications.com/Concordance/Names/index.html)
5. [Biblical Names That Start With C, WhatStartsWith.com](https://whatstartswith.com/biblical-names-that-start-with-c/)
6. [Bible Names & Meanings, BibleMaximum](https://biblemaximum.com/bible-names)
7. [Bible Concordance: Caleb, Bible Hub](https://www.biblehub.com/concordance/c/caleb.htm)
8. [Bible Names Starting with C (Complete List with Meanings), My Bible Bento](https://mybiblebento.com/biblical-names-list/bible-names-starting-with-c/)
9. [Boy Names That Start With C: 122 Ideas, Betteroo](https://betteroo.ai/guides/boy-names-that-start-with-c/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Languages and linguistics › Names and onomastics › Individual given names (by language and gender) › Classical and European names*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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