Cassidy
Cassidy is a gender-neutral given name derived from the Irish surname Ó Caiside and ultimately from the Gaelic given name Caiside, meaning "curly-haired." The name Caiside comes from the Irish word element cas, meaning "twisted, curly".
- English
Meaning & Origin of Cassidy
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Cassidy is a gender-neutral given name derived from the Irish surname Ó Caiside and ultimately from the Gaelic given name Caiside, meaning "curly-haired." The name Caiside comes from the Irish word element cas, meaning "twisted, curly".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Cassidy
As a girl name
Cassidy first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1969, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1999: 3,395 births, good for #99 nationwide. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 34% of all recorded Cassidys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #506 among girl names with 601 births, falling sharply (-24%). In total, more than 61K Cassidys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Cassidy as a boy name dates back to 1968, when 5 babies received it. 1984 was its biggest year on record, with 169 newborns named Cassidy — #665 in the national rankings. The 1980s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 30% of all recorded Cassidys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,275 among boy names with 63 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 4K Cassidys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Cassidy
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Cassidy. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Cassidy
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cassidy is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cassidy
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About the name Cassidy
Cassidy is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 61K births in the dataset. Cassidy's peak popularity came in 1999 when it ranked #99. Use the chart and map above to compare Cassidy's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1999 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.