Nature-Inspired Girls' Names That Start with C

Expecting a baby girl and looking for a C-beginning name that's rooted in the natural world? Then move a little closer to the screen. Whether your taste tends toward short or long, classic or distinctive, you'll find plenty of ideas below. Happy naming!

• Caja. Meaning "leaf" or "petal" in Cornish, Caja joins the growing group of Cornish words occasionally spotted on birth certificates. But be aware: caja is also a Spanish word meaning "box".
• Cala. Cala may be a Spanish word meaning "creek" or "cove", but it passes the baby name test, too.
• Calanthe. Orchid enthusiasts may recognize Calanthe as the name of a genus of winter-blooming orchids, while for the fans of The Witcher books, Calanthe is the name of a fictional queen.
• Calathea. Any house plant lovers out there?
• Calla. Outside the baby name world, Calla belongs to a beautiful flowering plant native to Africa.
• Calyx. A botanical term that has seen some use as a baby name. For those who need a refresher in Biology, calyx is the outermost whorl of a flower composed of sepals.
• Camelia. A spelling variation of Camellia.
• Camellia. Camilla with a nature twist.
• Camomile. A variation of Chamomile.
• Canary. A small songbird in the finch family. As a baby name, Canary has yet to make its mark.
• Canna. A sixth-century saint, an island in Scotland, and a flamboyant garden plant (aka the canna lily). On the downside, there's the association with another, more controversial plant.
• Cassia. Its beautiful sound and connection to the cassia tree make this one an solid possibility for nature-loving parents.
• Cat. Do your daughter a favor and go with Catherine instead (you can still call use Cat as a nickname).
• Cerise. A French word meaning "cherry"—and a perfectly legit baby name.
• Chamomile. A floral take on the classic Camille.
• Cherry. A relatively unusual mid-century moniker with fruity overtones.
• Christia. Take the classic Christina, remove the "N", and you've got Christia, an unusual but not completely unheard of girl's name with a subtle nature tie (Christia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family).
• Chrysanthemum. A long-winded botanical pick for the audacious baby namer.
• Chrysanthia. Chrysanthia may sound like a flower, but it's actually a genus of beetles.
• Cicely. A humble perennial plant that does double duty as a feminine given name. Famous past bearers include actress Cicely Tyson and illustrator Cicely Mary Barker.
• Clementine. Fruity but wearable!
• Cleome. Looking for a botanical path to the retro-cool nickname Cleo? Try Cleome, the name of a plant genus commonly known as spider flowers.
• Cleora. A vintage charmer with a subtle nature connection: turns out, Cleora is a genus of moths.
• Clivia. Unusual flower name reminiscent of Olivia.
• Clover. Feels rich with potential.
• Coco. A short but memorable name for a baby girl. Courteney Cox and David Arquette have a daughter called Coco.
• Coral. In use as a first name since the beginning of recorded baby name history.
• Cordyline. A fetching evergreen shrub. As a baby name, Cordyline has yet to take off.
• Coriander. Brings to mind the divisive herb.
• Cricket. Cricket was added to the baby name lexicon when Busy Philipps and Marc Silverstein named their daughter Cricket Pearl Silverstein in 2013.
• Cynthia. A currently-neglected name with a surprising nature connection: in entomology, Cynthia refers to a group of colorful butterfy species.
• Cypress. Borrowed from the evergreen coniferous tree.