-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R0355O6FEzbsYTFBA2qjRf3lBKVKjhKL6SON63LLtUzsdWP50QuEINvtATAuVbtR
 k7zbMS3UXU/SAgICVTLM2Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-06-015235.txt : 20060717
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-06-015235.hdr.sgml : 20060717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060717164358
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-06-015235
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060714
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060717
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060717

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITY NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000201461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				952568550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3108886000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N ROXBURY DR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDSMITH RUSSELL D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207188

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10521
		FILM NUMBER:		06965310

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 N. ROXBURY DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136739515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CITY NATIONAL CORP ,GENERAL COUNSEL
		STREET 2:		400 N ROXBURY DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000201461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITY NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207188</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDSMITH RUSSELL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 N. ROXBURY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right To Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>64.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30157</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30157</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30157</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on July 14, 2007.  The expiration date is July 13, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Russell D. Goldsmith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----