Naming a child can feel like standing in the middle of a crowded street, everyone shouting suggestions, half of them outdated or loaded with someone else’s baggage.
I know what it’s like to want something honest—something that doesn’t box your kid in before they even know who they are. You want a name that feels open, real, and doesn’t stick a label on anyone’s future.
Let’s talk about fifteen gender-neutral baby names that start with C. Each one carries a story, a vibe, or that sharp edge you get from a name that refuses to pick a single lane. Here’s what makes each one work, and maybe, what might make your heart settle just a little.
1. Cameron
This sounds like the kind of name you’d want to have your back in a snowball fight. There’s a scrappy confidence to it, rooted in old Scottish history but always showing up fresh—never quite what you expect. This name is equal parts bold and kind.
Significa “crooked nose”—quirky, maybe, but that’s the best part. It’s not afraid of imperfection. Kids with this name don’t have to fit a mold. They get to make their own.
Did you know Cameron is massively popular for every gender in both Scotland and North America? It’s worn by athletes, poets, and kids who just want to paint their faces blue on a rainy day. Give this name to a child who should feel free to be both fierce and gentle, whenever they need to be.
2. Casey
This name always made me think of someone who could pull off every hat at the party. There’s a lightness built into the name—you can almost hear it in the way it rolls off your tongue. Irish roots mean “vigilant” o “watchful.”
It’s the name of kids who notice things grownups miss. What’s wild is how Casey feels equally at home on a baseball field or scribbling in the corner at art class. Some names carry a spark; this one feels like a whole firework show waiting to happen.
Fun fact: Casey topped both girls’ and boys’ name charts in the 80s and 90s, making it a classic for anyone who likes to shake up tradition.
3. Charlie
Charlie doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It’s honest—warm, a little cheeky, but always there when you need it. The kind of name that wears sneakers to weddings and brings snacks nobody else thought to pack.
It started as short for Charles or Charlotte, but anyone who’s met a Charlie knows it’s a name that does its own thing. I knew a Charlie who could make friends with anybody—teachers, bus drivers, even the grumpy neighbor down the street.
What’s under the surface? Charlie means “free man,” but you don’t have to be a man to claim that freedom. It’s a name that shrugs off limits, tapping you on the shoulder with quiet confidence. Give it to a kid who likes to question rules, or someone who needs a nudge to break them.
4. Carter
Carter walks in like it has a job to do, but then it sits down next to you and tells a joke. There’s grit in this name—maybe from its old English roots as a “transporter of goods by cart.”
But for all that, Carter doesn’t get stuck carrying anyone else’s expectations. This name doesn’t care about gender, status, or whether you like trucks or tea parties. Carter fits with big dreams and big questions. It’s the kind of name that grows up curious, never bored. If you need to raise a problem-solver, you could do a lot worse.
Did you know it’s one of the top rising gender-neutral names in the US? Carter’s been breaking out of its old molds for years.
5. Cypress
It feels ancient and wild, like it’s been around long enough to see every secret. It’s not a name you hear every day, and that’s half its magic. I remember reading that the cypress tree is a symbol of growth and resilience—two things kids need more than anything.
This is for a kid who’s curious about the world’s corners—maybe one who asks tough questions at bedtime or collects rocks just because. Cypress lets a child be rooted and adventurous at once. It’s a name for someone who looks up, keeps going, and never minds being different.
Fun fact: In ancient myths, cypress trees marked the entrance to sacred spaces—kind of fitting for a name that opens doors to new stories.
6. Cory
The name that doesn’t try to impress you. It’s simple, almost shy, but don’t underestimate it. Kids named Cory have a way of leaving their mark without making a fuss. I once had a neighbor named Cory who’d show up with band-aids and snacks after every scraped knee. That’s what this name offers: a soft landing in a loud world.
The name means “from the hollow,” which is kind of poetic if you ask me. It gives space—room for a child to grow into their quirks, to make mistakes and come back laughing. Corys are the ones you call when you need someone steady.
Fun tidbit: Cory peaked in popularity in the late 80s, but it always finds its way back because kids who carry it remind us what real patience looks like.
7. Ciel
Some names just feel like a breath of air, and Ciel is all sky. It’s French for “sky,” but it also whispers freedom, openness, and all the possibility that comes before anyone tells you who to be.
This isn’t a loud name. It’s gentle, but underneath, there’s a quiet strength that suggests the sky’s the actual limit. If you want a name that feels like a wish on a clear day, Ciel is it.
Bonus bit: In French, “Ciel” means both “heaven” e “sky,” so you’re giving a child a name that holds just about everything above us.
8. Claude
Claude doesn’t care about trends. It’s got this old-school, French cool that feels like someone who’d rather have a deep conversation than shout to be heard. It means “lame” o “enclosure,” but honestly, it’s never been about fitting in.
Claude has been worn by artists and rebels alike. It’s a name for a kid who can change the room by listening first. It’s not flashy, but it sticks with you.
Fun fact: Claude Monet (yes, the painter) helped give this name its creative edge. It’s never going to be basic, no matter how many years go by.
9. Channing
If you want drama, Channing delivers. There’s a flourish in it—a sense of someone who owns their space and doesn’t shrink down for anybody. The name’s Old French roots mean “young wolf.” That’s wild energy.
I’ve only met one Channing in my life, and she could lead a pack of kids through a thunderstorm without losing a shoe. This name belongs to someone who makes big entrances and even bigger decisions. It’s stylish, almost theatrical, and has an edge that says “don’t mess with me or my crew.” Perfect for a kid who’s bold but never cruel. If you want a name that makes everyone turn and look, this one’s it.
Fun story: Channing has soared in popularity ever since Channing Tatum—no surprise, since it practically announces itself when you say it out loud.
10. Cedar
This is the kind of name you whisper in the woods. It’s quiet but powerful, rooted in the earth with a sense of mystery that makes you want to look twice. There’s a strength in it, but never the kind that pushes you around.
You pick Cedar for a kid who sees wonder everywhere—one who collects feathers, not just trophies. It isn’t flashy. It’s patient, grounded, and has an old soul. It’s a nature name, but it feels ancient rather than trendy. If you want a name with staying power, this one’s not going anywhere.
Did you know? Cedars can live for over a thousand years. Not a bad legacy for a child who’s expected to grow into their own story.
11. Carmen
It’s a name that dances. There’s music in it, even if you’ve never heard of the famous opera. Spanish in origin, it means “garden” o “orchard.” That’s lush, alive, and full of promise. It feels expressive, artistic, and almost cinematic in the best way.
It’s a name for someone who finds beauty in odd corners and whose laughter rings out. Carmen has a way of sticking in your memory, like a favorite song you hum without thinking. Give it to a child who sees the world in color.
Carmen has been a name for poets, rebels, and daydreamers alike. It doesn’t settle; it moves.
12. Coryn
This name has edges but also a softness that sneaks up on you. It’s Greek for “from the hill,” which fits—a name that feels like standing on a high place, breathing deep, and letting the world spin below for a second. There’s curiosity built into the bones of this name.
Coryn is a twist on Corey, but it refuses to be a copy. It’s for a kid who wants to see what’s on the other side of things, not just what’s in front. If you want a name with just a little wild in it, this fits the bill.
In some stories, Coryn is also the name of a warrior. It carries that hint of courage, right under the surface.
13. Cade
This name isn’t here to take up space just because. It means “round” o “barrel-shaped” in Old English, but it’s got sharpness—a spare, almost cool quality. The Cade energy is quick, direct and it doesn’t waste time on what doesn’t matter.
Whether they’re climbing fences or arguing about dinosaurs, kids with this name don’t blend in. Cade fits anyone who values honesty and isn’t afraid of a little mess. It’s a name that moves fast and doesn’t get stuck looking over its shoulder.
Did you know? Cades have been characters in Shakespeare and on TV—always a little rebellious, never boring.
14. Clarke
A name for the thinkers—the ones who want to know why the sky is blue and how to build a rocket out of soda bottles. There’s a cool, analytical edge, but it’s not cold. It’s the kind of name that gets written on lab reports and skateboards in equal measure.
Clarke means “cleric” o “scholar,” but it doesn’t stay behind closed doors. It’s just as likely to end up on a hiking trail as in a library. This is a name for a kid who’s going to ask hard questions and won’t always wait for permission.
It’s rising fast as a first name thanks to sci-fi heroes and real-world rebels alike.
15. Cleo
Cleo bursts into the room like a splash of bright paint. It’s short, sharp, and completely unforgettable. The name’s Greek, meaning “glory,” and it’s always had a little star power. I met a Cleo who built forts out of pillows and insisted on naming every one of her goldfish. That’s the energy: inventive, unapologetic, ready to make their mark.
Cleo doesn’t need to be loud to stand out. There’s a confidence here—a sense that whoever carries it will find their own way, even if it’s sideways. It’s a name that’s made for kids who won’t apologize for taking up space.
Interesting tidbit: Cleopatra might steal the spotlight in history books, but Cleo has quietly shown up for inventive, creative types for generations.