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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Cassandra

62 replies

cinammonfishsticks · 14/08/2024 08:31

Thought we'd found our perfect name, but made the mistake of saying it to close family and it's gone down like a sack of shit (lesson learned!) No negative comments but just nods and then no mention and it's really put me off!

What are your thoughts on Cassandra? I'm more than aware the tragic connotations but in my opinion so many literary and mythological female names have sad endings. I think it's so pretty and love nn Cassie.

Any alternatives with similar vibes too?

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RedOnyx · 15/08/2024 10:31

I used to babysit a lovely little girl called Cassandra who went by Cassie. It's a gorgeous name. I have seen Only Fools and Horses and my mind never even went there until I saw the comments. We actually have a young Derek in the family - that's way worse!

I do love Clarissa as well, as suggested by a PP (sadly my partner doesn't).

newleafontheplantjohn · 15/08/2024 09:48

How about Constance / Connie?

Or Clarissa?

Grannyinnwaiting · 15/08/2024 08:56

I like it but it's a little affected - Clarissa is similar and doesn't have the same vibe

Ellmau · 14/08/2024 23:23

It's a beautiful classic name.

Also the name of Jane Austen's sister.

mathanxiety · 14/08/2024 23:20

I far prefer Cassie.

Funny how names have different connotations in different places. The Cassandras I know have sisters with names like Everleigh, Brielle, Adalyn, Alexandria, Octavia - faux posh.

bloodyeffinnora · 14/08/2024 23:02

I love it like nn cassie too

Doublebubblegum · 14/08/2024 23:00

Am I the only one who also thinks of Wayne's World?? There's a bit in the film where Mike Myers is singing a song about a girl named Cassandraaaaa and every time I hear this name that's what I immediately think of (before the OFAH link!!)

Cassie is a great name.

Angelina1972 · 14/08/2024 22:57

I love it! My cousins name is Cassandra, she gets called Sandy.

i did and still do watch OFAH and I don’t think about the connection to the name.

LiterallyOnFire · 14/08/2024 22:50

I prefer Calista/Callie.

sunnywithmeatbols · 14/08/2024 22:39

It's beautiful and Cassie is a cute nickname too.
I would never have thought of Only Fools and Horses - wouldn't have occurred to me. by the time she's at school no one will remember that at all.

CynthiaSlam · 14/08/2024 22:36

FWIW, I watched OFAH as it was very much one of my dad's (he grew up "in" OFAH, so, y'know, blue collar) favourite shows. I could recite the theme choooon even now...and my dad still named me Sandra (and I'm very RP middle class).

Cassandra is a lovely name

Meadowwild · 14/08/2024 22:32

I love the nn Cassie. Don't love Cassandra as a name. Also reminded of OF&H, and don't like the 'sandra' bit of the name. But she is an amazing character in myth - foreseeing truths no one will believe.

KirstenBlest · 14/08/2024 22:18

Call him Damien.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 14/08/2024 22:15

I immediately think of OFAH as well but in a good way, Cassandra was a lovely character just don’t call your next child Raquel!

BurntBroccoli · 14/08/2024 21:56

Only Fools and Horses comes to mind!

cunningartificer · 14/08/2024 18:21

I'd just like to reassure you on this; I can't tell you the number of times people (myself included) have thought a baby name in the abstract is odd or unusual or they think they don't like it.,. And when you meet the baby it's completely different and after a few weeks you can't imagine them being called anything else and moreover that new lovely baby is now your most powerful association with the name! So fear not. It's a lovely name.

Nicebloomers · 14/08/2024 18:15

Cassandra is lovely, don’t let other people put you off and in future don’t tell people beforehand!

I think Jane Austen rather than only fools and horses.

DinnaeFashYersel · 14/08/2024 17:13

Far too frilly for me.

Moreteaandchocolate · 14/08/2024 17:09

I like it! Especially Cassie for short 😊

KirstenBlest · 14/08/2024 14:56

Don't be persuaded into using a different Cassie name (Cassidy, Cassia etc) . Cassandra is an old, classic goddess name. I'd say it fits in with names like Diana.

Also, bear in mind that in the 1960s, Alexandra probably seemed quite out there and not a baby name. I

Original poster
cinammonfishsticks · 14/08/2024 14:49

Thanks everyone. I've read a bunch of threads on this name and felt confident in it and the majority consensus of it being well liked so was surprised by their reaction! I think a pp may have hit it on the head though - until there is a little human to attach to a name, it's hard to conjure positive connections. I'm feeling much better about it again now

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 14/08/2024 12:24

Sandra is fine @CynthiaSlam , I like Sandy too. I know two in their 50s, one of whom goes by Sandy.

CynthiaSlam · 14/08/2024 12:11

My name is Sandra so I'm 😭 at those that don't like the name's second half! 😆

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my name. It's strong, not prissy, but feminine. I'm in my early 30s so this whole "it's dated", I don't subscribe to. It's a rare name without being weird.

A few have assumed my full name is Cassandra... so it's not an "out there" name, OP.

I've never had my names shortened by other to Sandy. The only tiny thing I'd flag to you is regional/North American accents making the first "a" high or low. I'm from the South so the high "a" does jar my ear a bit, but not the end of the world by any stretch

CruCru · 14/08/2024 12:10

Cassandra is a lovely name - also not too popular. To be honest, if they’d raved about how much they liked it, that would have put me off (just because then I’d feel as though the name had been fixed by them). Name your child Cassandra.

KirstenBlest · 14/08/2024 11:53

No negative comments but just nods and then no mention and it's really put me off!

I'd say they probably would need to have a little person to associate the name with because it's quite a strong name. If you'd said a 'current' name (Amelia, Olivia, Sophia, Ava... yawn) they'd have gushed saying how lovely and unusual it was.

I think Cassie is lovely.