The name Kassandra originates from ancient Greek and is derived from the elements "kekastai" meaning "to shine" and "aner" meaning "man". This suggests the name originally meant something along the lines of "shining upon men". It dates back to ancient Greek mythology, where Kassandra was a Trojan princess gifted with prophecy by Apollo but cursed never to be believed.

In Homer's Iliad, Kassandra foresaw the fall of Troy and tried in vain to warn the Trojans of the Greek warriors hiding in the Trojan Horse. She was taken as a concubine by Agamemnon after the war. In Aeschylus' tragedy Agamemnon, she was killed by Clytemnestra along with Agamemnon upon their return to Argos. The name thus carries associations of prophecy, tragedy, and being unheeded.

The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to around the 8th century BCE. Byzantine historian Michael Psellos referred to a woman named Kassandra in the 11th century CE. Italian scholar Cassandra Fedele (1465-1558) was one of the first renowned female humanists of the Renaissance.

Other notable historical figures named Kassandra include Cassandra Austen (1773-1845), the sister of novelist Jane Austen; Cassandra Hodges (1637-1670), a Quaker minister; and Cassandra Brydges (1670-1735), a member of the English aristocracy and diarist. Cassandra Veninga (1783-1854) was a Dutch poet.

The Greek form Kassandra has historically been more commonly used than variants like Cassandra found in English and other languages. However, all forms ultimately derive from the same ancient Greek root name associated with the mythological figure of the Trojan princess.