Babette (Hebrew) - " God hath sworn," or "an oath of God." This name, like Babel and Babet, is a French contraction of Elizabeth.

Babie - Scottish form of above. A good deal of confusion has arisen concerning Babette and Babie, but it seems really that the former comes from Elizabeth and the latter from Barbara.

Barbara (Greek) - " A foreigner " or " stranger." From the Greek Bapbapos. In old times all those who spoke a different language to that of one's country were regarded as outsiders, or " barbarians."

Barbary - An English variant of Barbara.

Basilia (Greek) - " A queen."

Bathilda (Teutonic) - " Commanding battle-maid," This name is a compound of "Bat" and 'hilda"; the latter being a most popular root-name, signifying "battle-maid," and is derived from Hildr, the war-goddess of the North. An extremely large number of names have been formed by the use of suffixes or prefixes, such as Hilde-gardc and Mathilda, etc.

Bathsheba (Hebrew) - " Daughter of an oath."

Beata (Latin) - " Blessed."

Beatrice - English and Italian form of Beatrix.

Beatrix (Latin) - " Joy-giver." This is the correct and original form of the name, and is used as such in France, Portugal, and Russia.

Becky (Hebrew) - "A snare." English contraction of Rebecca.

Belinda (Old Italian) - "A serpent."

Bella (Hebrew) - " Oath of God." Scottish contraction of Isabel, itself a shortened form of Elizabeth.

Bellona(Latin) - " War-like." From " Bellum " " war."

Benedicta (Latin) - "One who has been blessed." From " bene " - well; " dico " - to speak.

Benita - Spanish form of above.

Beret (Celtic) - "Strength." Swedish contraction of Bridget.

Berghild (Teutonic) - " Protecting battle-maid."

Bernardine (Teutonic) - " Firm bear."

Berta - English contraction of Bertha.

Bertha (Teutonic) - "Bright or shining one." This name is derived from the word " perch-ten " - shining, and has the same meaning as Epiphany; and is connected thus with the shining star that led the Magi to the Christ-child at Bethlehem. It has passed through various forms: first Perchtan; then contracted into Perchta; next changed into Berchta; and finally shortened into Bertha, or Berthe (French).

Berthilda - Was probably the original and full form of Bertha, meaning "Bert" (bright), Hilda (battle-maid), "Bert "coming from perchten, which see in name above.

Beryl (Greek) - " Soothsayer." A jewel name.

Bessie (Hebrew) - "Oath of God." Contraction of Elizabeth.

Beth - See Bessie. Betsy and Betty also variants.

Bethia {Celtic) - " Life."

Betta and Bettine - English and German contractions of Elizabeth.

Bianca - Spanish form of Blanche. Italian, Biancha.

Blanche (Teutonic) - "White." A very ancient name, and extremely popular in former centuries. It is derived from the Anglo-saxon " Bloecan," to bleach or whiten, and was probably applied originally to those whose hair and complexion were very fair and pale. " Blanchefleur " - White Flower.

Blenda {Teutonic) - "Dazzling," "glorious." Originally a Swedish name.

Boadicea {Celtic) - " Victory," or " triumph."

Brenda {Teutonic) - " A sword."

Bride - A pretty shortened form of Bridget.

Bridget {Celtic) - " Strength." The most popular of all Irish names. Bridgit, Brigid, and Biddy are all variants.

Brunhilda (Teutonic) - " Breastplate (Brun), " battle-maid " (Hilda). The original

Brunhilda was a famous Valkyrie, whose beauty and strength and legendary life were so wondrous that many variants of her name came into vogue; among them Brune-hilda and Brunilla and Brynhild.

Calliope (Greek) - " One having a beautiful voice." From two Greek words, Kayos, kalos (beautiful), and of ops (the voice). Callirehoe (Greek) - " Beautiful stream." koyos, and pon, rhoe (stream). Callista (Greek) - " She that is most beautiful." Calpnurnia (Latin) - " The dreamer." Calypso (Greek) - " Hider, " or " concealer." Camena (Latin) - " Sweet singer." From the Sanscrit root cams (one who sings or praises). Camilla (Latin) - " Attendant at a sacrifice." Camille - French variant of above. Canaee (Greek) - " All-knowing." Candaee (Arabic) - " A queen." Candida (Latin) - " White," or " pure." Canidia (Latin) - " A sorceress." Carlota - Spanish form of Charlotte. Carlotta - Italian form of same. Carmen (Latin) - "A song." From Sanscrit cams, or kar (the narrating or praising thing - i.e., song or poem).

Carmira {Hebrew) - " Vineyard." Also spelt Carmea.

Carol (Latin) - Song. From Cantare (to sing), and rola (an interjection of joy).

Caroline (Teutonic) - " Noble spirited." This is the feminine form of the root-name Karl, which produces our English Charles. Karl was the family name of a line of Frankish kings, of whom Charlemagne (Karl the Great) was the most famous. After that it was often used as a royal name. In Latin Karl was transformed into Carolus, and in Anglo-saxon, Ceorl. Carlos is the Portuguese form. Charlotte has the same origin.

Cassandra (Greek) - " A prophetess," also "helper of men."

Cassiope (Greek) - " The lady in the chair." This is the name of one of the constellations whose chief stars form the outline of a chair. The story goes that this lady, who was the wife of the King of Ethiopia, boasted that, the beauty of her daughter Andromeda surpassed that of the sea-nymphs. These deities complained of the insult to the sea god, and insisted that Andromeda be chained to a rock as prey to the sea monsters.

Perseus rescued her, made her his bride, and

Cassiope was put up among the stars out of the way. Cassiopia - Variant of above. Catalina (Greek) - "Pure." Now used, with

Caterina, as the Spanish and Italian form of

Katherine, respectively.

Catharina and Catharine - Variants of

Catherine.

Catherine (Greek) - " Pure," " unspotted."

Cecile - French form of Cecilia (Latin) - " Blind." From caucus (blind).

Cecily and Cicely - See Cecilia.

Celeste - French variant of Celia, which see.

Celestine and Celestina - Same as Celeste.

Celia (Latin) - " Heavenly." From ccelum (Heaven).

Charity - (Greek) - " Kind hearted." One of the three sisters known as the Charities or Graces. From Greek xansw; (charisin).

Charlotte (Teutonic) - " Noble minded." Set Caroline.

Cherry (Greek) - " Love." English variant of Charity.

Chloe (Greek) - " Blooming."

Chloris (Greek) - " The verdant one." Chloris was the goddess of flowers.

Chriemhilda (Teutonic) - " Helmet "(Khriem) "battle-maid."

Chrissie - English diminutive of Christine.

Christabel (Greek) - " Fair follower of Christ."

Christiana and Christina - English variants of Christine.

Christine (Greek) - " A Christian," or " a follower of Christ." From the Greek word xpue (chris), to touch, or anoint, whence is derived the term Christos (The Anointed One), which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew prophetic term Messiah. From this Christos is also derived the title Christ, as applied to the Saviour, meaning " the Anointed One of God."

Christophera (Greek) - *" Christ-bearer." From Xpusto(s) and фεpw, Phero (to bear).

Circe (Greek) - " An enchantress."

Cissie - English contraction of Cecilia, which see

Clara (Latin) - " Clear," " bright." From the masculine Clarus, a famous Roman name, Clara is the feminine form used in England. Germany, and Spain.

Clare - An English variant of above; also spelt Claire.

Claribel (Latin) - " Brightly fair."

Clarice - Italian form of Clara.

Clarinda - English variant of Clara.

Clarissa - English diminutive of Clara.

Clarona - Old French form of same.

Claudia (Latin) - " Lame." Masculine forms Claud and Claudius. In Wales Claudia became transformed into Gladys, whence it returned to England as a new name.

Claudine - French form of Claudia.

Clematis (Latin) - A flower name, signifying " star-like."

Clemency - Variant of above much used in Puritan times.

Clementina - Popular German form of Clementine. Clement is the masculine form.

Clementine (Latin) - " Merciful " or " gentle."

Cleopatra (Greek) - " Father's glory."

This alphabetical list will be continued.