Cassidy for a girl?

[Sez281]

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

I like it, and the nn Cass.

I like it too

You're Irish and want to give your daughter an Irish surname as a first name?

You're from the US really, aren't you?

As you've probably guessed, it's not a trend I like.

People Might think ‘Butch’ when they hear it which is what I did and wouldn’t t be great for a girl.

I’m quite old but to me it would be Hopalong Cassidy. I shouldn’t think many on here would remember that TV programme though as it was on decades ago.

People like to say that the surname as first name trend is "American", and certainly it has a lot of history and traction in the USA, but it also has a long history in Scotland. This is partially historically due to the fact that for a long time, there was a naming pattern (of course not ever mandated, but with considerable cultural force) where children were named after their grandparents, and therefore there were often multiple people in the same family with the same first name.

Of course, diminutives were used to distinguish individuals, but beyond that middle names were used as every day first names much more than was the case in England and other European countries. And many of those middle names were the "maiden names" (original last names or surnames) of the mother or grandmother: thus surname as middle name became surname as first name. I'm not sure, specifically, that this happened the same way in Ireland, but I know that naming after grandparents was common there as well for a time so it seems to make sense.

Anyway, there should not be a stigma about using a surname as a first name if you love it and it has significance to you and your family. But personally, I really love Hope and would use that as a first name in a moment!

I know a Cassidy.
Beautiful girl.
Dark hair, blue eyes and a happy, brilliant girl.
I recommend it highly.

And nobody calls her “Butch” or “Hopalong” either. Those are just silly.

I much prefer MacGillicuddy or O’Looney

I'm Irish and I can't get my knickers in a twist about people using Irish surnames for their babies.

Personally cannot stand the mimsy Hope.

People get very worked up about surnames as forenames, but they're not all bad across the board imo.

I wouldn't call a girl (or boy for that matter) Parker or Peyton, but Cassidy is nice, and the abbreviations are too.

I like it. So much better than Evie, please no more Evies. It’s been done to death.

Beautiful, strong name! I absolutely love it.

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

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!

My immediate thought was Butch but I am old!

I think it's a lovely name!

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

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

@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!

Great name.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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