Cassian
Cassian was the 479th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 633 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,436 places. More babies were named Cassian in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Cassius (Latin) · Latin
Say it KASH-un /ˈkæʃən/
- Rank in 2025
- #479 boys, up 557 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 633boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025633 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,907babies recorded
What does the name Cassian mean?
Cassian comes from Latin Cassianus, a name formed from Cassius, the Roman family name. DMNES notes that the family name is possibly derived from Latin cassus, empty, though this is not certain. Wiktionary notes it was the name of early saints, and DMNES lists a 4th-century Italian saint and a 4th-century French saint. In the US Cassian has appeared only since the late 1990s.
Cassiānus (Latin, “of Cassius”)cassus (Latin, “empty (possible root of Cassius)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES: Cassius 'possibly' from cassus, empty.
Related names: Cassius, Cassiano, Kassian.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Cassian', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Cassian' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Nicknames for Cassian
The usual nicknames for Cassian are Cass. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Cassian in the last five years, 5 were named Cass, against 523 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass · also for Cassidy, Cassius, Cassandra | Modern | #5,068 | 110 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Cassians go by each one.
Cassian popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 14 since 2017.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #479 | 633 |
| 2020 | #1,036 | 196 |
| 2010 | #6,091 | 14 |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Cassian, counting every spelling?
Cassian is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #455 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #479 for Cassian on its own. Together these spellings went to 680 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cassian | 633 | #479 | 2,128 |
| Kassian | 42 | #2,959 | 175 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Cassian?
633 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cassian (0.18 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Cassian born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 13 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cassian.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cassian?
About 2,900 people born in the US named Cassian are alive today, with a median age of 3; half are between 2 and 6. That makes Cassian a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Cassian by state
How common Cassian was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Oregon (2.0×), Nevada (1.8×), Washington (1.8×), Colorado (1.7×), Utah (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Alabama, Idaho, South Carolina.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cassian: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cassian, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Cassian · Sibling names for Cassian
Questions about the name Cassian
What does Cassian mean?
Cassian is usually explained as “from Cassius (Latin)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Cassian?
Cassian was the 479th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 633 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,436 places. More babies were named Cassian in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Cassian a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Cassian in the US.
Where is Cassian most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cassian was most common in Oregon (0.49 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and Washington.