Christian Christian Names: Baby Names inspired by the Bible and the Saints

[KON-rad] from Germanic kuon, meaning ‘bold’ and rad, meaning ‘counsel’.

Conrad of Parzham (1818–94), Capuchin lay brother. Born into a peasant family of Parzham in Bavaria, he dedicated himself to a life of Franciscan simplicity as a Capuchin lay brother after the death of his parents in 1849. He took vows in 1852 and subsequently, as porter of the friary at the shrine of Mary at Alltotting, dedicated himself to the care of pilgrims there. Over the years he became widely known for his patient and charitable ways and also earned a reputation for prophecy.

Variants: Curt, Kurt.

Constance feminine form of Constantine.

Constantine (m)

[KON-stuhn-teen] from Latin constans, meaning ‘steadfast’.

From the name of Constantine the Great (c.285–337), the first Christian emperor of Rome and founder of Constantinople. He presided over the church’s first general council at Nicaea in 325. He moved his capital to Byzantium on the Bosporus in 330, renaming it Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was baptised on his deathbed.

Feminine forms: Connie, Constance.

Consuela (f)

[kon-SWE-luh] from Spanish, meaning ‘consolation’.

The name comes from one of the titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary: ‘Our Lady of Consolation’.

Cormac (m)

[KAW-mak] from Gaelic, meaning ‘charioteer’.

Irish abbot and bishop. He was also the king of Munster and a scholar: he is known for his famous Cashel Psalter. He died in battle in 908.

Cornelia feminine form of Cornelius.

Cornelius (m)

[kuh-NEE-lee-uhs] probably from Latin cornu, meaning ‘horn’.

A Roman centurion who became Peter’s first Gentile convert and on whom the Holy Spirit came as happened at Pentecost. The whole experience confirmed that the gospel was equally for Gentiles as well as for Jews (Acts 10–11).

Also the name of the Roman Pope (died 253). Nothing is known of the details of Cornelius’ early life before he succeeded Fabian as Pope in 251. He faced many challenges as head of a deeply divided church, of which perhaps the most important was the issue of the re-admittance to the church of the lapsed faithful. Cornelius, in opposition to his rival Novatian, favoured forgiveness of apostates and repentant sinners, providing they performed suitable penance. He is honoured as the patron saint of cattle and domestic livestock.

Feminine form: Cornelia.

Crispin (m)

[KRIS-pin] from Latin crispus, meaning ‘curly-headed’.

One of two Roman martyrs (died c.285). According to legend, Crispin and Crispinian were two Roman brothers of noble birth who brought the gospel to the region of Soissons in France, where they earned their living as shoemakers. Ultimately they were tortured and martyred for their faith. A local English tradition claims that they survived and subsequently settled in Faversham in Kent, which was formerly a site of pilgrimage on their account. Their names are most familiar to modern readers from their mention in the celebrated ‘St Crispin’s Day’ speech before the battle of Agincourt in William Shakespeare’s Henry V. Today they are honoured as the patron saints of shoemakers and leather workers.

Crispus (m)

[KRIS-puhs] from Latin, meaning ‘curly-headed’.

In the New Testament, the leader of the synagogue at Corinth (Acts 18:8) who became a Christian and was baptised together with all his household. He was one of the few converts to be baptised by Paul himself (1 Corinthians 1:14).

Cuthbert (m)

[KUTH-buht] from Old English cuth, meaning ‘famous’ and beorht, meaning ‘bright’.

English bishop (c.634–687). Cuthbert was born in Northumbria and brought up by a foster-mother after the death of his parents. He spent his youth as a shepherd and soldier before wearying of warfare and, after a vision, entering Melrose Abbey at the age of 15 and becoming a monk. Shortly afterwards he narrowly survived a plague that claimed many lives and prompted many Christians to revert to paganism. In response to this, he embarked on a lifetime of missionary work throughout northern England, tirelessly calling on the faithful to maintain their faith and taking the gospel as far as the Picts of northern Scotland.

He eventually became prior at Melrose but from 664 was based at Lindisfarne, acquired a gathering reputation as a worker of miracles and becoming known as the ‘Wonder Worker of Britain’, being credited with miraculous powers of prophecy and healing. In 676, however, he withdrew from the world and spent the next 10 years living as a hermit in a cell on the isolated Farne islands. In 684 he reluctantly gave up the solitary life when he was elected bishop of Hexham but almost immediately arranged to exchange this position for the see of Lindisfarne. Widely revered for his dedication, compassion and generosity towards his flock, he died on the Farne islands two years later. Today he is honoured as the patron saint of sailors.

Cyprian (m)

[SIP-ree-uhn] from Latin Cyprianus, meaning ‘of Cyprus’.

Bishop of Carthage (c.200–258). Born Thasius Cecilianus Cyprianus into a wealthy family of Carthage, he became a leading lawyer before converting to Christianity around 246, when he was in his forties. He gave away his wealth, took a vow of chastity and around 248 was elected Bishop of Carthage, though he was obliged to spend much of the rest of his life in hiding. Acknowledged as one of the early Fathers of the Church, he wrote extensively on the Scriptures and the church of his day. He is believed to have died a martyr’s death, being beheaded during the persecution instituted by Emperor Valerian after he refused to make sacrifice to the gods. He is honoured today as the patron saint of Algeria and North Africa.

Also Cyprian and Justina, two martyrs of Antioch (c.300). According to legend, Cyprian was a sorcerer of Antioch who attempted to win the love of the Christian maiden Justina through his magic. Depressed at his lack of success in this enterprise, Cyprian found himself attracted to the faith that his beloved professed and in due course was baptised himself and became a bishop, while Justina became an abbess. They were both martyred at Nicodemia.

Cyril (m)

[SI-ril] from Greek kyrios, meaning ‘lord’.

Cyril of Alexandria (c.376–444), Archbishop of Alexandria. Born in Alexandria in Egypt, he supported his uncle Theophilus of Alexandria in deposing St John Chrysostom and ultimately succeeded him as Archbishop of Alexandria in 412. Over the next 32 years he did much to defend the church there against the heresy of Nestorianism but also acquired a controversial reputation for stubbornness and volatility in his defence of the orthodox approach, closing churches that were disloyal to him and driving the Jews out of Alexandria. The mob lynching of the respected Neoplatonist philosopher Hypatia was a particular cause of resentment towards his rule. In 431 he presided over the Council of Ephesus, which formally condemned Nestorianism, and following this victory he showed a little more tolerance towards those who disagreed with his orthodox stance. His status as a Doctor of the Church reflects his undoubted importance as a theologian and scholar.

Also Cyril of Jerusalem (c.315–c.386), Bishop of Jerusalem. Born in or near Jerusalem, he became a priest around 346 and ultimately bishop of the city. A gentle man by nature, he faced sustained opposition from the supporters of the Arian heresy almost throughout his bishopric. He was forced into exile three times by the advocates of Arianism and in all spent some 16 of his 37 years as bishop absent from his see. In 381 he took part in the Council of Constantinople, which finally brought an end to the Arian heresy and ensured that the final years of his bishopric were relatively peaceful.

Also Cyril and Methodius, two Slav missionaries (828–809 and c.815–884). Cyril (born Constantine) and Methodius were two brothers born in Salonika who were ordained as priests in Thessalonica and later moved to Constantinople. Around 863 they were sent to Moravia to spread the gospel. Being speakers of the Slavic language they enjoyed great success but also incurred the enmity of rival German missionaries. Cyril died while the brothers were on a visit to Rome in 869. Methodius, meanwhile, was consecrated bishop by the pope, but on his return to Moravia was imprisoned at the will of hostile German bishops. He was released two years later and continued his missionary work until 879, when he was obliged to go to Rome to respond to the criticisms of his enemies. He was confirmed in the post of archbishop of Sirmium (Pannonia) and Moravia and on his return introduced the celebration of the liturgy in the Slavonic language.

Known as the ‘apostles of the Slavs’, the two brothers are remembered chiefly for compiling an early version of what became the Cyrillic alphabet and using it to translate the Bible, so establishing their claim to be the fathers of Slavonic literature. Today they are honoured, alongside St Benedict, as the patron saints of Europe.

Cyrus (m)

[SY-ruhs] from Persian Kurush, meaning ‘sun’ or ‘throne’.

King Cyrus the Great, a Persian emperor (549–530 BC) who is best known in the Bible for conquering Babylon and allowing the Jewish exiles to return home (Ezra 1:1–4). This latter policy is confirmed by the ‘Cyrus cylinder’, which shows that it was applied to many subject peoples.

Damaris (f)

[DAM-uh-ris] probably from Greek, meaning ‘calf’.

The name of a woman in Athens converted under the ministry of the apostle Paul (Acts 17:34). Since she is mentioned specifically, she may have been a woman of prominence.

Damian (m)

[DAME-ee-uhn] ultimately from Greek, meaning ‘to tame’.

Damian, Syrian martyr (died c.303). Little is known of his life beyond the tradition that he, with his twin brother Cosmas, was martyred for the faith at Cyrrhus in Syria. They became the focus of a cult from the fifth century onwards, the legend being embellished with such details as their performing numerous extraordinary miracles and being nicknamed ‘the Moneyless Ones’ because they never requested payment for their services. Today they are honoured as the patron saints of physicians, surgeons and barbers.

Also the name of the Belgian missionary Damien de Veuster (1840–89), who left his native Belgium in 1873 after volunteering to work in Hawaii, where an epidemic of leprosy had erupted some eight years before. Sometimes called Damien the Leper, he worked to improve the miserable conditions in which lepers lived in isolation, organising them into groups to do useful work in the community and generally improving facilities in the colony. He went to Hawaii with a sense that he too might die of the disease and in fact he finally contracted leprosy himself after 16 years’ tireless effort of helping lepers.