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.
How to spell Casey
The standard spelling is Casey. Common variants include Kasey, Casie, Cacey, but Casey is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. 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
Common questions
- What does the name Casey mean?
- From the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, 'descendant of the watchful one.'
- What does Casey mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Casey means "Vigilant, watchful." 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.
- How do you pronounce Casey?
- Casey is pronounced ˈkeɪ.si. Say it as CA-sey, with the stress on the "ca" syllable.
- How do you spell Casey?
- The standard spelling is Casey. Common spelling variants include Kasey, Casie, Cacey.
- Is Casey a boy or girl name?
- Casey is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Casey?
- Casey ranked #1065 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.