Cassian first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Cassian has been for the last 27 years (from 1997 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Cassian

A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "hollow" or "empty".

Popularity of Cassian by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Cassian is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Cassian being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 553 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Cassian.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby girls were named Cassian in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 553 9
2022 244 0
2021 229 0
2020 196 0
2019 132 0
2018 136 0
2017 128 5
2016 19 0
2015 19 0
2014 19 0
2013 13 0
2012 22 0
2011 11 0
2010 14 0
2009 17 0
2008 13 0
2006 8 0
2004 8 0
2002 5 0
1997 5 0

The history of the first name Cassian

The name Cassian originated from the late Latin name Cassianus, which was derived from the Roman family name Cassius. This name has its roots in the Etruscan language and culture, with the word 'cassis' meaning 'helmet'. The name Cassian was popular among early Christians, particularly in the 4th and 5th centuries CE.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Cassian comes from St. John Cassian, a monk and theologian born around 360 CE in the Roman province of Scythia Minor (modern-day Romania). He was an influential figure in the development of Western monasticism and wrote several important works, including the Institutes and the Conferences.

Another notable figure with the name Cassian was Cassian of Imola, an Italian jurist and canonist who lived in the 14th century. He is known for his commentaries on canon law and his work in the field of legal studies.

In the 6th century CE, there was a Bishop of Autun named Cassian, who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He is believed to have played a significant role in the establishment of Christianity in the region of Burgundy, France.

The name Cassian also appears in the writings of St. Gregory of Tours, a Gallo-Roman historian and bishop from the 6th century CE. He mentions a monk named Cassian who lived in the monastery of St. Mesmin near Orléans, France.

In more recent times, Cassian Balmadrid (1810-1887) was a Spanish painter and engraver known for his works depicting historical and religious scenes. He was a prominent figure in the Spanish art world of the 19th century.

Cassian Luisetti (1892-1959) was an American basketball player and coach who is credited with introducing and popularizing the running one-handed shot in the sport. He played for and coached the San Francisco Dons basketball team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Cassian throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural and historical significance across various regions and time periods.

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 Cassian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Cassian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 23, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/cassian-meaning-and-history/.

"Cassian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/cassian-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 23 May, 2025

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

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