How to say it
CA · sey
/ˈkeɪ.si/
Unisex
Casey
Vigilant, watchful
What it means
From the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, 'descendant of the watchful one.'
Casey comes from the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, 'descendant of the watchful or vigilant one.' The folk hero Casey Jones, the brave railroad engineer of the old ballad, fixed it in American culture, and it has long been genuinely unisex, worn easily by boys and girls. It is breezy, friendly, and a little old-fashioned in the best way. Kasey is the common alternate spelling.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #80 in 1986, currently #1065 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #80 in 1987, currently #320 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Solidly unisex.
- Pop culture
Casey Jones, the heroic engineer of the railroad ballad.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Casey Jones the railroad engineer of American folk song
- Casey Affleck American actor and Academy Award winner
Spelling variants
- Kasey
- Casie
- Cacey
Names with the same feeling
See Casey from another angle
By style