Cassidy means curly-haired in Irish Gaelic — from the surname Ó Caiside. Butch Cassidy gave it outlaw romance. The Grateful Dead's Cassidy was inspired by both the outlaw and Neal Cassady. It's an Irish name that somehow sounds like the American West: open sky, open road, and the freedom to ride wherever you want.
Irish Gaelic Ó Caiside (curly-haired)→surname Cassidy→given name
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Irish Gaelic roots
Cassidy comes from the Irish Gaelic Ó Caiside, meaning descendant of the curly-haired one. Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker, 1866–1908) was the leader of the Wild Bunch gang and became America's most romanticised outlaw, especially through the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). The Grateful Dead's song Cassidy (1972) was inspired by both the outlaw and Beat Generation figure Neal Cassady. The name crossed to the girls' column and has been popular for both genders.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient as an Irish surname; Butch Cassidy (1866–1908) made it legendary in the American West.
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Today
Cassidy remains a beloved choice, ranking #394 in the US. 63,963 babies have been named Cassidy since 1968.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of Family Names, SSA data
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How popular is Cassidy?
1999peak year
Today, Cassidy ranks around #394 in the United States, with roughly 899 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1999, 3,395 babies were given the name (ranked #99 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2000s. Cassidy has been declining in recent years. In all, around 63,963 babies have been registered as Cassidy since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Cassidy's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — the outlaw who communicates through action. People named Cassidy tend to be free-spirited, expressive, and drawn to living on their own terms.
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Lives on her own terms
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Free-spirited expression
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Outlaw charm
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Open-road energy
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Communicates through action
C3
A1
S1
S1
I9
D4
Y7
Sum: 26 → Life path 8
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Personality of Cassidy
💼
Built for success
They don't dream of achievement — they plan for it.
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Commanding presence
They walk in and people notice.
🔑
Strategic mind
Always three moves ahead.
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Unbreakable
Setbacks sharpen them. Resilience is in their DNA.
Every name has a homeland. Discover beautiful girl names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.