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

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'?

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.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a good film

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.

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).

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

Sounds like a surname to.me. Like Cassie.

@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

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.

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

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

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