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Baby names

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Original poster

Cassidy for a girl?

37 replies

Sez281 · 03/08/2024 23:22

I know it might be shortened to Cassie which we don't mind, but being Irish I love the fact that it means "curly haired, clever or strong one". What are peoples opinions on surnames being used as first? Our other favourites at the moment are Hope or Evie

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Malahide · 06/08/2024 14:42

Not a fan of Cassidy as I don’t like the American trend of turning surnames into first names

I adore Cassie though - we know one and she is exactly how you describe the meaning of the name! A lovely, amazingly clever girl with gorgeous long and curly hair

cariadlet · 05/08/2024 21:09

Not keen on Cassidy because I don't like surnames as first names but I do like Cassie.

BotterMon · 05/08/2024 21:00

Butch, Sundance Kid and David as in The Partridge Family. Yes I grew up in the US. I really like Cassie though.

Orphlids · 05/08/2024 20:58

I really like Cassidy! I find it a really cheerful and playful name. I picture a gorgeous little girl with pigtails and freckles, all dusty from a day of playing in the sun. Hope is nice too, sophisticated in its simplicity. But Evie to my ears is so boring and overused.

Original poster
Sez281 · 05/08/2024 20:01

@DaffodilDora according to Wikipedia "clever" or curly haired. I definitely read strong somewhere too. Myself and OH are both curly haired so thought it was quite apt (even though she might not be of course!)

@Taytocrisps I don't think that shop is still there although there are a good few pubs and Cassidy travel would be a well known travel agents.

Thanks for all the replies and opinions, we're definitely keeping it in the top 5 list for now although slightly edging more towards Cassie on its own the more we say it aloud

OP posts:
BCBird · 05/08/2024 19:17

Sounds like a surname to.me. Like Cassie.

Ghostlight · 05/08/2024 19:16

I like it, makes me think of the song Cassidy by Brett Dennon

RedOnyx · 05/08/2024 18:49

I really like it. It doesn't "sound" surnamey in the same way as McKenzie or Anderson. Loads of names that are common now were originally surnames, e.g. Shirley or Ashley (originally derived from place names).

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 05/08/2024 18:32

I don't usually like "surnamey" names but I think this one works quite well as a first name, even for a girl. As you noticed, the likely short forms work well for a girl. (If she wants to be more edgy one day she could always be Sid!) And it has a familiar sort of shape and rhythm to it, similar to names like Amelie, Stephanie, Verity etc.

DuchessOfSausage · 05/08/2024 18:30

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a good film

Taytocrisps · 05/08/2024 18:25

There used to be a clothes shop in Dublin city centre called Cassidys. So I associate the name with the shop more than as a surname iykwim. But you'd probably have to be a certain age to remember the shop. I don't think I've actually met anyone with the surname Cassidy. I'm not crazy about Cassidy as a first name and it's quite long. But Cass and Cassie are nice. Depends on your surname too e.g. Cassidy Kennedy would be a bit of a mouthful.

DaffodilDora · 05/08/2024 18:16

Cass or Cassie are nice. I really don't like Cassidy but I'm not sure why. Maybe because of the surname? Or it sounds ex-pat or something?
I knew it was related to curly but not that it meant clever or strong. Does it really'?

KayEmAy · 05/08/2024 16:30

I love it, I also really like Cassia, Hope and Evie!

Though for what it's worth Hope Cassidy sounds SO cool

miniaturepixieonacid · 05/08/2024 14:24

I really like it. And would only ever think of it for a girl, not a boy.

I like Cassandra and Cassia too.

Hope is nice. Not keen on Evie as a stand alone but like Evangeline and, to a lesser extent, Evelyn.

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 05/08/2024 13:30

Despite always having disliked surnames as first names, no matter how hard I try, I can’t dislike Cassidy for a girl. I think it sounds great: strong, elegant and friendly, and has good diminutives.

As others have said, it makes a welcome change from the plethora of Evies, Olivias Islas etc.

Good choice, OP

PuddingAunt · 05/08/2024 11:10

VaddaABeetch · 04/08/2024 03:08

I much prefer MacGillicuddy or O’Looney

Mac Giolla Mo Chuda (Son of servant of Carthach known as Mo Chuda) does not work as a first name, but Carthy is a strong name I think.

O'Looney likewise doesn't work but Luan is fine if hou like it.

DuchessOfSausage · 04/08/2024 20:51

I know one, a boy. I think it's a nice surname but not a first nme.

BlastedPimples · 04/08/2024 13:50

Great name.

Original poster
Sez281 · 04/08/2024 10:03

@DramaAlpaca I'm 100% Irish, born and reared here but I obviously must be US influenced as I love Darcy & Reilly too 🤔 (OH not so keen)

@VaddaABeetch I can see what you're doing there but I've never met either surname so they're not as stereotypically common in Ireland as you think

Thanks for all the replies, I know it doesn't actually matter what others think once we like it but I was just curious as to what others views were. We'll probably end up calling her something completely different when we see her!

OP posts:
RuthW · 04/08/2024 09:56

It's nice. I don't think surname.

user1492757084 · 04/08/2024 09:54

Cassidy is fine; and Cass and Cassie are both nicer than Evie and Hope.

MaltipooMama · 04/08/2024 09:33

I think it's a lovely name!

crumblingschools · 04/08/2024 09:17

My immediate thought was Butch but I am old!

NCfor24 · 04/08/2024 09:15

I know a Cassidy. Never thought anything of it iykwim, just another name along with the other classmates my kids have. I don't immediately think it's a surname!

ConfusedKoala13 · 04/08/2024 09:15

I love it - have only encountered it irl with 2 x Australians.
I had it on my list - DH was less keen...