This list includes 49 Latin boy names that start with C, from “Caecilius” to “Cyrus”. It blends classical Roman family names with later Christian and medieval usages, giving options for parents, writers, and researchers.
Latin boy names that start with C are masculine names of Latin origin used in ancient Rome and later Europe. One notable example, “Caecilius”, began as a Roman family name derived from “caecus”, meaning “blind”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Meaning/Origin, and Notes.
Name: The given name as historically attested, so you can compare forms and choose a preferred spelling.
Pronunciation: Intended to show a simple respelling or brief IPA guide so you can say the name confidently.
Meaning/Origin: Short etymology or word-root explanation that helps you understand cultural or literal significance of the name.
Notes: Historical, saintly, or usage notes that help you evaluate modern suitability and cultural context.
Latin boy names that start with C
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Attestation/Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caius | /ˈkae̯.i.us/ — KAI-us | Unknown (traditional praenomen) | Roman praenomen |
| Caeso | /ˈkae̯.soː/ — KYE-soh | Possibly “cut” or uncertain | Roman praenomen (rare) |
| Caecilius | /kae̯ˈki.li.us/ — kai-KEE-lee-us | From Caeculus/caecus “blind” | Roman nomen (gens Caecilia) |
| Caecus | /ˈkae̯.kʊs/ — KAI-kus | Blind | Roman cognomen |
| Caelius | /ˈkae̯.li.us/ — KAI-lee-us | Of the Caelian Hill | Roman nomen |
| Caepio | /ˈkae̯.pi.oː/ — KYE-pee-oh | From caepa “onion” | Roman cognomen |
| Caelianus | /kae̯ˈli.a.nus/ — kai-LEE-ah-nus | Of the Caelian Hill | Roman cognomen |
| Calvus | /ˈkal.wus/ — KAL-vus | Bald | Roman cognomen |
| Calpurnius | /kalˈpʊr.ni.us/ — kal-PUR-nee-us | Unknown (gens name) | Roman nomen (gens Calpurnia) |
| Camillus | /kaˈmɪl.lus/ — ka-MIL-lus | Youth attendant (temple attendant) | Roman cognomen/given name |
| Canus | /ˈka.nus/ — KAH-nus | Grey, hoary | Roman cognomen |
| Capito | /ˈka.pi.toː/ — KAH-pee-toh | Big-headed | Roman cognomen |
| Carbo | /ˈkar.boː/ — KAR-boh | Coal, coalman | Roman cognomen |
| Carinus | /kaˈri.nus/ — ka-REE-nus | Little Carus / dear | Late antique cognomen |
| Carus | /ˈka.rus/ — KAH-rus | Dear | Roman cognomen / imperial name |
| Cassius | /ˈkas.si.us/ — KAS-see-us | Possibly “empty” or uncertain | Roman nomen |
| Cassianus | /kasˈsi.a.nus/ — kas-SEE-ah-nus | Derivative of Cassius | Roman/medieval cognomen and saint’s name |
| Castor | /ˈkas.tor/ — KAS-tor | Beaver (Greek origin, Latinized) | Classical Latin (mythological) / cognomen |
| Catullus | /kaˈtul.lus/ — ka-TUL-lus | Diminutive of catulus “puppy” | Classical cognomen |
| Cato | /ˈka.toː/ — KAH-toe | Shrewd, clever (catus) | Roman cognomen |
| Celsus | /ˈkels.us/ — KEL-sus | Lofty, high | Roman cognomen / Christian saint |
| Censorinus | /kenˈso.ri.nus/ — ken-SOR-i-nus | From “censor” office | Roman cognomen / author |
| Cerialis | /keˈri.a.lis/ — keh-REE-ah-lis | Of Ceres (goddess) | Roman cognomen |
| Ciccero / Cicero | /ˈki.ke.roː/ — KIK-er-oh | Chickpea | Classical cognomen |
| Cincinnatus | /kinˈkin.a.tus/ — kin-KIN-ah-tus | Curly-haired | Roman cognomen |
| Cincius | /ˈkin.ki.us/ — KIN-kee-us | Uncertain (gens name) | Roman nomen (gens Cincius) |
| Cinna | /ˈkin.na/ — KIN-na | Uncertain (cognomen) | Roman cognomen |
| Cnaeus | /ˈknae̯.us/ — KNYE-us | Possibly “born of” (archaic) | Roman praenomen (archaic) |
| Claudius | /ˈklau̯.di.us/ — KLOW-dee-us | Lame (from claudus) | Roman nomen |
| Clemens | /ˈkle.mens/ — KLEM-ens | Merciful, mild | Roman cognomen / Christian name |
| Clodius | /ˈklo.di.us/ — KLO-dee-us | Variant of Claudius | Roman nomen/cognomen |
| Cocceius | /kokˈke.i.us/ — kok-KEE-ee-us | Unclear (gens name) | Roman nomen |
| Commodus | /koˈmɔ.dus/ — ko-MO-dus | Convenient, suitable | Roman cognomen / imperial name |
| Constantinus | /konsˈtan.ti.nus/ — kon-STAN-ti-nus | Steadfast | Late antique/imperial Latin |
| Constantius | /konˈstan.ti.us/ — kon-STAN-ti-us | Steadfast | Late antique imperial name |
| Corvinus | /korˈwi.nus/ — kor-VEE-nus | Of the raven (corvus) | Roman cognomen / medieval usage |
| Corvus | /ˈkor.wus/ — KOR-vus | Raven | Roman cognomen |
| Cotta | /ˈkot.ta/ — KOT-ta | Uncertain (cognomen) | Roman cognomen |
| Crassus | /ˈkrass.us/ — KRAS-sus | Thick, fat | Roman cognomen |
| Crispus | /ˈkris.pus/ — KRIS-pus | Curly-haired | Roman cognomen |
| Crispinus | /krisˈpi.nus/ — kris-PEE-nus | From crispus “curly” | Roman cognomen / saint’s name |
| Curio | /ˈku.ri.o/ — KOO-ree-oh | Unclear (gens name) | Roman cognomen |
| Curius | /ˈku.ri.us/ — KOO-ree-us | Uncertain (gens name) | Roman nomen (gens Curius) |
| Curtius | /ˈkur.ti.us/ — KUR-tee-us | Uncertain (gens name) | Roman nomen |
| Cuspius | /ˈkus.pi.us/ — KUS-pee-us | Uncertain (gens name) | Roman nomen |
| Celer | /ˈke.ler/ — KEH-ler | Swift | Roman cognomen |
| Cethegus | /ˈke.te.gus/ — KEH-teh-gus | Possibly of unknown origin | Roman cognomen |
| Cyprianus | /kyˈpri.a.nus/ — kip-REE-ah-nus | From Cyprus (Greek origin) | Late antique/medieval saint |
| Cyrus | /ˈky.rus/ — KY-rus | Throne, sun (Persian origin) | Classical Latin (historical figure) |
Descriptions
Caius
Classic Roman praenomen often written “Caius” in inscriptions; common in Republican and imperial names, used in legal and literary texts.
Caeso
An archaic Roman praenomen attested in early Republican families; rare by late Republic but preserved in genealogies and inscriptions.
Caecilius
Nomen of a prominent Roman gens; appears across Republic and Empire inscriptions and literature.
Caecus
A descriptive cognomen (e.g., Appius Claudius Caecus), used in Republican Rome to distinguish branches of families.
Caelius
Nomen associated with the Caelian Hill; borne by magistrates and literary figures in classical and imperial periods.
Caepio
Cognomen of several Republican figures (e.g., Quintus Servilius Caepio); likely occupational or descriptive in origin.
Caelianus
Derived from Caelius, used to indicate origin or family branch linked to the Caelian Hill in Rome.
Calvus
Common descriptive cognomen in Rome and later Latin usage; concise, easily recognizable in inscriptions.
Calpurnius
Nomen of a well-known patrician family; members served as consuls and jurists in the Republic and Empire.
Camillus
Originally a ritual title, later a cognomen and honest Roman personal name (e.g., Marcus Furius Camillus).
Canus
Short descriptive cognomen indicating hair colour or age, attested in Republican inscriptions.
Capito
A familiar Roman cognomen used across families as a distinguishing epithet in inscriptions and literature.
Carbo
Widespread cognomen (e.g., Papirius Carbo), possibly occupational or descriptive in origin.
Carinus
Late-Roman cognomen borne by Emperor Carinus (3rd century); attested in imperial records.
Carus
Used as a cognomen and imperial name (e.g., Emperor Carus), conveys affection or value.
Cassius
Prominent Republican gens (e.g., Gaius Cassius Longinus); well attested in historical sources.
Cassianus
Late-Roman and medieval form of Cassius; borne by saints and ecclesiastical figures.
Castor
Originally Greek mythological name but widely used and Latinized in classical literature and inscriptions.
Catullus
Famous as the cognomen of the poet Gaius Valerius Catullus; shows diminutive, affectionate naming.
Cato
Iconic Republican cognomen (Cato the Elder, Cato the Younger) used as a moral exemplar in later Latin literature.
Celsus
Used as a cognomen and later Christian name (Saint Celsus); appears in inscriptions and writings.
Censorinus
Name indicating connection to the censor office; borne by authors and aristocrats in the imperial era.
Cerialis
Cognomen suggesting association with the goddess Ceres; found in imperial inscriptions.
Ciccero / Cicero
Famous cognomen of Marcus Tullius Cicero; originally a family nickname derived from a plant/food term.
Cincinnatus
Legendary Republican figure Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus; the name became a symbol of civic virtue.
Cincius
Less common nomen attested in Republican inscriptions and epigraphy.
Cinna
Cognomen of several Republican figures; concise and attested in Livy and inscriptions.
Cnaeus
Archaic praenomen often abbreviated “Cn.”; appears in early Roman (Republican) records and epigraphy.
Claudius
Well-known patrician gens; emperors and statesmen bore this nomen across Roman history.
Clemens
Widespread cognomen and Christian personal name (Pope Clement); popular from late antiquity onward.
Clodius
Plebeian form of Claudius used by notable political figures in the late Republic (e.g., Publius Clodius Pulcher).
Cocceius
Nomen of a Roman gens (e.g., Cocceius Nerva); appears in imperial-era records.
Commodus
Imperial cognomen most famously borne by Emperor Commodus; originally an adjective used as a name.
Constantinus
Late-Roman imperial name (e.g., Constantine) widely attested in inscriptions and ecclesiastical texts.
Constantius
Name of several Roman emperors; common in late antiquity and ecclesiastical records.
Corvinus
Cognomen indicating “raven”; used by Roman nobles and revived in medieval Latin contexts.
Corvus
Simple animal-derived cognomen attested in Republican inscriptions and literature.
Cotta
Short, widespread cognomen used by several Republican families (e.g., Aurelii Cottae).
Crassus
Prominent cognomen (e.g., Marcus Licinius Crassus); commonly used to denote stoutness or wealth.
Crispus
Descriptive cognomen used widely from Republic through imperial times; also used in late-antique Christian names.
Crispinus
Derivative of Crispus; borne by saints and clergy in late antique and medieval Latin.
Curio
Attested as a cognomen and nomen; Curio appears in Republican histories and Cicero’s speeches.
Curius
Nomen of an old Roman family (e.g., Manius Curius Dentatus); appears in early Latin records.
Curtius
Nomen attested in legend (Marcus Curtius) and Republic/imperial inscriptions; used as family name.
Cuspius
Less common nomen attested in inscriptions and epigraphic records of the Republic and Empire.
Celer
Short descriptive cognomen used by many Roman families to denote speed or quickness.
Cethegus
Distinctive Republican cognomen (e.g., Lentulus Cethegus) appearing in historical narratives.
Cyprianus
Latinized form of Greek origin widely used in Christian martyrology and medieval Latin texts.
Cyrus
Latinized form of the Persian name Kyros; appears in classical histories and Latin literature.