C has been a rather neglected letter of late. Katherine ranks #36 for girls, making it quite the popular choice, while her sister Catherine languishes at #122. The traditional Caitlin (#207) lags behind trendier cousins Kaitlyn (#41) and Katelyn (#61). Some parents have even opted to spell classic C names like Chloe, Cassidy and Courtney with Ks.

Blame it on the Kardashians.

In any case, there are some truly fabulous, and rather neglected C names to consider.

• Callisto – She’s a nymph, she’s a moon and on television, she’s Xena’s arch nemesis. Calista Flockhart brought a variant of this name into the spotlight and into the Top 1000. (Ally McBeal debuted in 1997; in 1998, Calista entered the list at #696 and today stands at #874.) But Callisto, with the “o” ending seems the fresher, more daring choice. Either way, she can use the simple nickname Callie. While Callisto occasionally appears in fiction, it has never appeared in the Top 1000.
• Cascata – I must admit that I’ve yet to meet a soul called Cascata. It would be a truly original choice for a child, but perhaps not an outlandish one. If Luna – Latin for moon – can rank #516, then why not the Italian word for waterfall? It’s an undeniably feminine sound, with the appealing nickname option Cassie. If you’re searching for a subtle nature name, this could be the perfect choice.
• Caledonia – It’s the ancient Roman, and now, a poetic name for Scotland. There are traditional ballads by the name of Caledonia; legendary blues bandleader Louis Jordan had a #1 hit in 1945 with Caldonia. It’s lengthy, but perhaps still one of the better ways to honor a parent’s Scottish heritage through a child’s name.
• Clio/Cleo/Clea – If you like the idea of a simple but distinctive given name that suits a child as well as an adult, one of these three might be for you.  Clio – our favorite of the trio – was the Greek muse of history and historic poems. Since 1959, she’s also been the equivalent of the Oscar for excellence in advertising and design.  While Cleopatra is best avoided, the pet form Cleo has possibilities, though, of the three, this is the most used in pop culture and sci fi, so your daughter would share her name with, for example, a purple poodle on the PBS animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Clea is a similar possibility, best known as the given name of actor Clea DuVall. There’s a comic book villain and a mollusk called Clea, but both are reasonably obscure. And speaking of obscure, none of these three have ever appeared in the Top 1000 in the US.
• Cordelia – In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Cordelia was King Lear’s youngest – and only loyal – daughter. The name’s origins are uncertain. It was once a reasonably common given name, ranking #204 in 1880. While other names from that era – like Emma, Isabella and Sarah – are as popular as ever today, Cordelia has not appeared in the Top 1000 since 1950. The name is rare, but familiar – an appealing combination. While the nickname Cordy may be a bit awkward, Delia or Della are graceful options that fit in with the Bella craze that has swept the nation.
• Consuelo – A Spanish name meaning solace, it is sometimes bestowed upon fictional Latina maids and nannies. However, Consuelo has blue blood roots. Railroad heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt, named for her half-Cuban godmother, went on to marry the Duke of Marlborough. This name would be a dramatic choice for a daughter, but since the logical nickname – Connie – feels a bit dated, perhaps it is better reserved for the middle spot.
• Cassia – It’s an Eastern version of cinnamon, a 7th century saint’s name and an ancient Roman family.  There’s even a Roman road called the Via Cassia. The same-sounding Kasia is a Polish nickname for Katherine, but we feel that Cassia is the stand-out choice. It has never appeared in the Top 1000 in the US.
• Cecily/Cicely – These frilly, feminine variants of Cecilia sound surprisingly current. After legendary African American actress Cicely Tyson appeared in the 1972 movie Sounder, Cicely spent two years in the Top 1000, peaking at #608 in 1974. It has since retreated to obscurity, though comedian Sandra Bernhardt chose Cicely for her daughter’s name.  Northern Exposure fans will remember the show was set in Cecily, Alaska; however, the place name has not helped the popularity of this pretty version of the moniker, since Cecily has not been in the Top 1000 since 1991 – a year after the show debuted. For even bolder parents, there’s also the place name Sicily to consider – but that’s another letter entirely.

Now if that’s not enough to reverse the current kraze for names starting with K, then one suspects that nothing will.

Lastly, here’s a tempting C name that we at ApMtn suggest should be avoided:

Caprice

Caprice sounds like an appealing noun name. So much so, that as with Avalon, we’d be willing to overlook the fact that a major car manufacturer has already used it for one of their models.

However, when considering any noun name, parents are best advised to turn to their dictionary and read carefully. Perhaps the most flattering reading of the definition is the neutral whim, but a fuller interpretation shows that capriciousness is an undesirable quality – to change one’s mind without reason, to tantrum, to behave erratically.

It is a quality every toddler embraces, but one that we desperately hope they’ll outgrow. Naming our daughters after such an unpleasant character trait is not a good idea.