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Original poster

Cassidy still a boy's name?

42 replies

decemberbluess · 08/12/2020 16:42

I adore this name and just recently brought it up to my DH as it being one of my guilty pleasures. This will probably be our last child and so I am really overthinking everything and wanting it to be the perfect name. I am aware it is more common for girls now but is there any chance this is still a boy's name?

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MikeUniformMike · 10/12/2020 21:07

It's not snobbery on my part. It's an observation.
People make assumptions based on a name. I know perfectly nice people with the names Shirley, Kelly, Warren, Lindsay, Leslie and Tracey, but none of them are under 45 yrs of age.

Orphlids · 10/12/2020 20:57

It’s still fairly common for right proper posh people to use surnames as first names. Some people might look down their noses at it, but people who are so interested in perception of class never seem particularly ‘posh’ themselves. Snobbery is so boring.

August20 · 10/12/2020 20:40

@MikeUniformMike

It's funny because surnames as first names was very much an upper class trend at one point. Using the mother's maiden name for sons in order to show off their lineage à la Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

August20 · 10/12/2020 20:38

Just read your second post. Yes, absolutely fine as a middle name.

MikeUniformMike · 10/12/2020 20:04

I think they are ok if you are american but surnames as first names are considered a bit downmarket in the UK.

They are nice surnames.

They date badly as first names - think of Shirley, Kelly, Warren, Lindsay, Leslie, Tracy etc

SirVixofVixHall · 10/12/2020 15:02

Only one I know is a boy, he is about 12.

wewillmeetagain · 10/12/2020 15:00

@MikeUniformMike neither do I to be honest, but I was just using them to illustrate my point!

MikeUniformMike · 10/12/2020 13:41

It's one of those like Taylor, Tyler or Morgan, it's suitable for both sexes.

I don't think any of those are good as first names.

wewillmeetagain · 10/12/2020 11:07

It's one of those like Taylor, Tyler or Morgan, it's suitable for both sexes.

August20 · 10/12/2020 10:57

I have seen it mostly used on girls but very occasionally boys.

Are you thinking of Casey? That is unisex but predominantly male.

Crankley · 10/12/2020 10:54

As I'm ancient it reminds me of Hopalong.

Cassidy still a boy's name?
Chilldonaldchill · 09/12/2020 21:35

I've never met a girl with this name. Obviously there are some but it sounds very masculine to me (although I don't like it at all for either gender).

Yennefer19 · 09/12/2020 17:01

Before I clicked on the title I would of said it was a boys name but from pp’s it’s obviously not.

I wouldn’t worry about the surname issue. Lots of surnames are now used as first names, Jackson, Carter, Jenson, Harrison, Grayson and Oakley are all surnames that are in the top 100 boys names.

DramaAlpaca · 08/12/2020 23:32

It's just another Irish surname which has been adopted as a girls' first name in recent times. I think it is a girls' name, rather than a boys'. It has quite a feminine sound to it.

Orphlids · 08/12/2020 22:50

I really like the name Cassidy, (like you, a guilty pleasure) but hadn’t heard of it being used for a boy. Can’t see why not, though. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of my favourite films, so for me, it’s not a negative association. It’s a cool, stylish film. Butch Cassidy was played by the impossibly beautiful Paul Newman. I worked with a guy who everyone called Butch. No one seemed to know what his real name was. I think Butch is a great nickname!

inappropriateraspberry · 08/12/2020 22:22

Oh yes, forgot about Butch. Definitely a connection in the U.K. BUTCH Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Big film, never seen it but have heard of it - Robert Redford I believe?

inappropriateraspberry · 08/12/2020 22:20

It's a surname. Only ever heard of David Cassidy!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/12/2020 22:08

Butch Cassidy is a well known reference in the UK (it's a famous film as well as a real person) but Cassidy is absolutely fine in the middle spot - lots of people have unusual middle names and most people won't know what his middle name is anyway!

I think I like James Cassidy best, but Philip is very nice too. Theodore is too trendy for my taste but lots of people love it, so I wouldn't blink at a Theodore Cassidy.

Chilldonaldchill · 08/12/2020 21:59

I only know two and both are boys - one is five and the other is 6 months.

Boxofpinot · 08/12/2020 21:55

Still a girls name or surname to me sorry..,not that surnames as middle names are wrong, my son has 2 middle names, one of which is my maiden name so could still use it

Original poster
decemberbluess · 08/12/2020 20:48

I have only ever met male Cassidys but even then it's been a long time since I have and when I've seen it online now I can only come across references for it as a girls name.

Also didn't know who Butch Cassidy is and now I can't unsee it. Is this as much of an association in the UK too?

I would like it as a middle as suggest by a PP and probably going for a classic first name to balance out the now 'girly' feel it has. Could this even remotely work or should I just take it off my list?

Philip Cassidy
James Cassidy
Theodore Cassidy

OP posts:
HolyBuckets · 08/12/2020 19:30

I've never heard it for a boy, apart from in Preacher but that's his surname.

DubbinDobbin · 08/12/2020 19:09

I've only heard it as a boy's name

AlwaysLatte · 08/12/2020 19:06

I've only ever heard of this as a girl's name. A boy will probably get teased and called 'Butch'.

LindaEllen · 08/12/2020 18:59

I only know one (shortened to Cassie) and she's a girl.

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