Casey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAY-see //ˈkeɪ.si//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: vigilant; English: brave in battle
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Casey has its roots in the Irish Gaelic name "O'Cathasaigh," which means "descendant of Cathasach," with "Cathasach" translating to "vigilant" or "watchful." The name evolved through various forms, including the anglicized version "Casey" that emerged in the 19th century as Irish surnames were adapted for English-speaking contexts. The transition into English can be traced through the migration of Irish families to English-speaking countries, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, when many Irish surnames were transformed into given names to facilitate integration into new societies.
Historically, the name Casey has been associated with notable figures in Irish history, including various leaders and warriors. The O'Cathasaigh clan was prominent in the province of Munster, and the name has been borne by several saints and local heroes throughout Irish folklore.
The use of Casey as a given name gained traction in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, where it was embraced by Irish-American communities. The name's presence in literature and popular culture, including its use in sports and media, has further solidified its standing.
Culturally, Casey embodies themes of vigilance and watchfulness, resonating with the qualities of guardianship and protection. This connection to vigilance is reflected in various traditions and stories within Irish culture, where names often carry significant meanings and attributes.
The name also has diminutive forms, such as "Case," which have been used affectionately in familial and social contexts. Overall, Casey's historical and cultural significance is deeply intertwined with Irish heritage, making it a name rich in meaning and tradition.
Famous people named Casey
In this section, you will find notable people named Casey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Casey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Casey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Casey Affleck is an actor and director best known for Manchester by the Sea, Good Will Hunting, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Casey Kasem is a radio personality and voice actor best known for American Top 40, Scooby-Doo, and Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
Casey Neistat is a filmmaker and YouTuber best known for his daily vlogs, the film Daddy Long Legs, and his work with HBO.
Casey Stengel is a baseball player and manager best known for his time with the New York Yankees, leading them to multiple championships, and for his unique quotes and sayings.
Fictional characters named Casey
The following list of fictional characters named Casey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Casey Becker is a fictional character from the film Scream. She is the first victim of the Ghostface killer, setting the tone for the horror film series.
Casey Jones is a fictional character from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. He is a vigilante who fights alongside the turtles to protect New York City from various threats.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Casey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Casey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Casey was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Casey has ranked as high as #163 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, New York, Florida, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Casey has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Casey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Casey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Casey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 105 | |
| CA | 93 | |
| PA | 53 | |
| FL | 49 | |
| NY | 48 | |
| WA | 43 | |
| OH | 42 | |
| IL | 41 | |
| VA | 37 | |
| MA | 36 | |
| MI | 35 | |
| NC | 32 | |
| TN | 29 | |
| MO | 25 | |
| CT | 24 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Casey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,096 |
| 2023 | 1,054 |
| 2022 | 1,006 |
| 2021 | 686 |
| 2020 | 553 |
| 2019 | 539 |
| 2018 | 469 |
| 2017 | 545 |
| 2016 | 514 |
| 2015 | 517 |
| 2014 | 523 |
| 2013 | 559 |
| 2012 | 557 |
| 2011 | 649 |
| 2010 | 706 |
| 2009 | 829 |
| 2008 | 976 |
| 2007 | 985 |
| 2006 | 1,070 |
| 2005 | 1,101 |
| 2004 | 1,271 |
| 2003 | 1,253 |
| 2002 | 1,399 |
| 2001 | 1,555 |
| 2000 | 1,822 |
| 1999 | 2,043 |
| 1998 | 1,975 |
| 1997 | 2,098 |
| 1996 | 2,464 |
| 1995 | 2,629 |
| 1994 | 3,046 |
| 1993 | 3,180 |
| 1992 | 3,575 |
| 1991 | 4,107 |
| 1990 | 4,133 |
| 1989 | 3,850 |
| 1988 | 4,039 |
| 1987 | 3,926 |
| 1986 | 3,762 |
| 1985 | 3,490 |
| 1984 | 3,511 |
| 1983 | 3,228 |
| 1982 | 3,427 |
| 1981 | 3,518 |
| 1980 | 3,215 |
| 1979 | 3,082 |
| 1978 | 3,003 |
| 1977 | 2,596 |
| 1976 | 2,126 |
| 1975 | 1,960 |
| 1974 | 1,729 |
| 1973 | 1,277 |
| 1972 | 1,191 |
| 1971 | 1,125 |
| 1970 | 899 |
| 1969 | 677 |
| 1968 | 552 |
| 1967 | 503 |
| 1966 | 563 |
| 1965 | 442 |
| 1964 | 394 |
| 1963 | 369 |
| 1962 | 517 |
| 1961 | 360 |
| 1960 | 347 |
| 1959 | 398 |
| 1958 | 374 |
| 1957 | 368 |
| 1956 | 352 |
| 1955 | 298 |
| 1954 | 236 |
| 1953 | 179 |
| 1952 | 180 |
| 1951 | 154 |
| 1950 | 117 |
| 1949 | 115 |
| 1948 | 88 |
| 1947 | 73 |
| 1946 | 56 |
| 1945 | 41 |
| 1944 | 47 |
| 1943 | 41 |
| 1942 | 56 |
| 1941 | 30 |
| 1940 | 24 |
| 1939 | 32 |
| 1938 | 21 |
| 1937 | 32 |
| 1936 | 35 |
| 1935 | 25 |
| 1934 | 22 |
| 1933 | 35 |
| 1932 | 31 |
| 1931 | 25 |
| 1930 | 19 |
| 1929 | 27 |
| 1928 | 24 |
| 1927 | 29 |
| 1926 | 35 |
| 1925 | 26 |
| 1924 | 45 |
| 1923 | 36 |
| 1922 | 42 |
| 1921 | 39 |
| 1920 | 44 |
| 1919 | 55 |
| 1918 | 63 |
| 1917 | 38 |
| 1916 | 46 |
| 1915 | 53 |
| 1914 | 48 |
| 1913 | 44 |
| 1912 | 45 |
| 1911 | 33 |
| 1910 | 19 |
| 1909 | 16 |
| 1908 | 11 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1906 | 12 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1904 | 7 |
| 1903 | 10 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1900 | 13 |
| 1898 | 6 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1894 | 9 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1888 | 6 |