Casey

Meaning of Casey

Casey—pronounced KAY-see (/ˈkeɪsi/)—derives from the anglicized Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, whose root cathasach denotes “vigilant” or “watchful,” and its migration from clan identifier to given name illustrates the broader Anglo-American pattern of surname adoption that gathered momentum in the later nineteenth century. As the name entered everyday usage it lost gender exclusivity, functioning fluently as a unisex choice and thereby aligning with contemporary preferences for adaptable, non-binary nomenclature. Cultural references have further entrenched its familiarity: the ballad “Casey Jones” immortalized an American railroad engineer’s heroism; Ernest Thayer’s 1888 poem “Casey at the Bat” etched a baseball anti-hero into national memory; and modern public figures such as broadcaster Casey Kasem and actor Casey Affleck sustain the name’s visibility across disparate domains. In demographic terms, United States vital-statistics data show a pronounced ascent beginning in the 1970s, a zenith in the 1980s and early 1990s when annual registrations surpassed 3,000 and the rank hovered within the national top 100, followed by a gradual, if steady, decline to its present mid-300s position—an arc typical of names that achieve mainstream saturation before ceding prominence to newer fashions. Collectively, these linguistic, sociocultural, and statistical dimensions confer upon Casey a legacy of alertness, versatility, and distinctly American resonance, while its Gaelic provenance preserves a subtle historical depth beneath its approachable modern surface.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as KAY-see (/ˈkeɪsi/)

• Cameron
• Cassidy
• Corey
• Carly
• Kelsey
• Kelly