Casey first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Casey has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Casey

A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "brave" or "watchful".

Popularity of Casey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Casey is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 58% of people named Casey being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,050 male babies and 239 female babies born with the name Casey.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,050 239
2022 1,000 285
2021 684 251
2020 549 232
2019 539 296
2018 469 292
2017 544 293
2016 514 329
2015 517 343
2014 523 353
2013 559 378
2012 557 355
2011 647 466
2010 706 484
2009 829 571
2008 976 678
2007 985 696
2006 1,070 770
2005 1,101 770
2004 1,271 817
2003 1,253 987
2002 1,399 1,031
2001 1,555 1,283
2000 1,822 1,517
1999 2,043 1,802
1998 1,975 2,103
1997 2,097 2,195
1996 2,464 2,550
1995 2,629 2,638
1994 3,046 2,691
1993 3,179 2,580
1992 3,574 3,007
1991 4,107 3,070
1990 4,132 3,261
1989 3,852 3,079
1988 4,038 3,149
1987 3,926 3,581
1986 3,762 3,423
1985 3,491 2,478
1984 3,514 2,582
1983 3,230 2,556
1982 3,427 2,477
1981 3,519 2,420
1980 3,216 2,171
1979 3,082 1,957
1978 3,003 1,532
1977 2,596 950
1976 2,126 811
1975 1,959 856
1974 1,730 822

The history of the first name Casey

The name Casey has its origins in the Irish Gaelic language, deriving from the surname Ó Caisídhe, which means "descendent of the watchful one." It is believed to have emerged as a given name in the late 18th or early 19th century, primarily used in Ireland.

In ancient Irish mythology, the name is associated with the mythological figure Cásídhe, a renowned druid and seer known for his wisdom and prophetic abilities. This connection lends the name a sense of mysticism and foresight.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Casey can be found in the Irish Annals, which document the exploits of various noble families and individuals throughout Irish history. The name appears in reference to several historical figures, although exact dates are uncertain.

The first notable bearer of the name Casey was Cáisídhe Ó Maolchonaire (c. 1150-1220), a renowned Irish scholar and poet who was celebrated for his mastery of the Irish language and his contributions to the preservation of ancient Irish literature.

Another prominent figure was Tadhg Ó Caisídhe (c. 1450-1520), a Irish chieftain and warrior who played a significant role in the ongoing conflicts between Irish clans and the English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

In more recent history, Casey Stengel (1890-1975) was a legendary American baseball player and manager, best known for his tenure as the manager of the New York Yankees. He led the team to seven World Series championships and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.

Casey Jones (1863-1900) was an American railroad engineer who became a folk hero after sacrificing his life to prevent a train collision. His story was immortalized in the famous ballad "The Ballad of Casey Jones," which celebrated his bravery and dedication.

Casey Stoney (born 1982) is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender for several clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool. She also represented the England national team and is currently the head coach of the Manchester United Women's team.

While the name Casey has gained popularity across various cultures and regions, its roots can be traced back to the rich heritage of Irish language and mythology, imbuing it with a sense of wisdom, foresight, and bravery.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Casey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Casey, please contact us.

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"Casey first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/casey-meaning-and-history/.

"Casey first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/casey-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 November, 2024

Casey first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/casey-meaning-and-history/.

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