Girl
Irish
3 syllables
Cassidy
KAS-ih-dee
/ˈkæsɪdi/
"The curly-haired one" — a name of Irish spirit, bright energy, and effortless cool
Cassidy is an Irish surname turned given name, derived from the old Gaelic clan name Ó Caiside meaning 'descendant of Caiside,' where Caiside likely refers to someone with curly hair. The name gained momentum in the United States in the 1990s partly through association with Butch Cassidy and the broader American affection for Western surnames as first names. It has a breezy, tomboyish energy that feels authentically Irish and distinctly American at the same time.
Quick Facts
Letters7
SyllablesCas · si · dy
GenderGirl
OriginIrish
Root WordCaiside
MeaningCurly-haired, clever
PopularityCommon
Peak Year2000
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
CassieCassCadiSid
About the Name Cassidy
Cassidy comes from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Caiside, meaning 'descendant of Caiside.' The personal name Caiside is believed to derive from the word for 'curly hair,' making the full meaning something like 'descendant of the curly-haired one.' The name also carries associations with cleverness and spirited independence through its cultural bearers.
Yes, Cassidy is Irish in origin, derived from the ancient Gaelic clan name Ó Caiside. The Ó Caiside family were historically poets and musicians of the O'Neill rulers in County Fermanagh, Ulster. As a given name, Cassidy is primarily an American innovation of the 20th century, though it carries genuine Irish heritage in its structure and sound.
Cassidy is associated with energy, independence, and a spirited, outgoing personality. People named Cassidy are often seen as adventurous, witty, and naturally charismatic — someone with a quick laugh and a bold, direct way of engaging with the world. The name has a tomboyish, Western-frontier spirit that suggests confidence and a lack of pretense.
Cassidy is primarily used as a girl's name in modern usage but was originally a gender-neutral Irish surname. The Western outlaw Butch Cassidy made it a famous male surname, while the Grateful Dead song and subsequent cultural shifts established it as predominantly feminine as a first name. Today it is used almost exclusively for girls in the United States.
Cassidy's three lively syllables pair well with shorter, classic middles. Beautiful options include Cassidy Rose, Cassidy Grace, Cassidy Mae, Cassidy Jane, and Cassidy Brooke. The name's Irish character also shines with Celtic-inspired middles like Cassidy Faye or Cassidy Skye.
Cassidy peaked in the United States around 2000, when it appeared in the top 75 girls' names. It has been gradually declining since then as many early-2000s favorites have stepped back to make room for newer choices. It currently sits in the Common tier, chosen by parents who remember it fondly from their own childhoods or simply love its spirited Irish-American character.
Personality of Cassidy
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Cassidy
Creativity
80%
Elegance
68%
Independence
88%
Intelligence
78%
Strength
80%
Warmth
84%
Famous People Named Cassidy
C
Cassidy (Grateful Dead song)
Beloved 1972 song by the Grateful Dead, written for a child named Cassidy
B
Butch Cassidy
Famous American outlaw whose surname helped popularize the name
C
Cassidy Wolf
American beauty queen, Miss Teen USA 2013
C
Cassidy Freeman
American actress known for Smallville and Longmire
Middle Names for Cassidy
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Cassidy
Cassidy Rose
Cassidy Grace
Cassidy Mae
Cassidy Elise
Cassidy Jade
Cassidy Ann
Cassidy Brooke
Cassidy Faye
Cassidy Skye
Cassidy Jane
Cassidy Renee
Cassidy Dawn
Names Similar to Cassidy
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Cassidy
1200
Ó Caiside clan established as a notable Irish family in County Fermanagh
1865
Robert LeRoy Parker adopts the alias Butch Cassidy, later to become an American folk hero
1972
Grateful Dead release Cassidy, introducing the name to a generation of American music lovers
1995
Cassidy enters the US top 100 girls' names, its peak popularity period
Numerology & Symbolism of Cassidy
8
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
1
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Aries
5
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Forest Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🌸
Lucky Flower
Shamrock
Cassidy Around the World
How Cassidy is written in different languages and scripts
كاسيدي
Arabic
キャシディ
Japanese
Кэссиди
Russian
캐시디
Korean
卡西迪
Chinese
Κάσιντι
Greek
कैसिडी
Hindi
קסידי
Hebrew
Looking for Name Ideas?
Explore our name inspiration guides