Cassian is a masculine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Cassius, which was derived from the Latin word 'cassus', meaning "empty" or "hollow". The name gained popularity through the Roman general and senator Gaius Cassius Longinus, who lived during the 1st century BCE.
The name Cassian is also associated with Saint Cassian, a Christian martyr who died in the late 3rd century. Along with his companion Saint Victor, he was beheaded for their faith during the reign of Diocletian. Their feast day is celebrated on August 29th.
In literature, the name Cassian appears in several works. In French novelist Honoré de Balzac's "Père Goriot", there is a character named Vautrin, originally known as Cassian de Beauvisage. Also, in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, there is a character named Cassius Warrington.
The name Cassian has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was among the top 1000 boys' names in the United States in 2018, ranking at number 967. It remains more common as a given name than its variant forms such as Cassie or Cass.
In conclusion, Cassian is a Latin-derived masculine given name with a rich history and varied associations, ranging from Roman politics to Christian martyrdom and modern literature. Its meaning, "empty" or "hollow", while not necessarily having any direct impact on personality traits, does add an interesting layer of depth to the name's origin story.
The name Cassian has been a rare yet steadily growing choice for parents in the United States over the past two decades.
In 1997, only five babies were named Cassian. This number remained consistent throughout the early to mid-2000s, with five births recorded in 2002 and eight births each in 2004 and 2006. However, starting from 2008, there was a significant increase in the number of newborns named Cassian.
The year 2017 marked a turning point, with 128 babies being named Cassian, more than tripling the previous years' numbers. This upward trend continued into 2018 with 136 births and 2019 with 132 births. The year 2020 saw another substantial increase, with 196 newborns named Cassian.
This growth trajectory accelerated even further in the following years. In 2021, there were 229 babies named Cassian, and this number jumped to 244 in 2022. The most recent data available shows that in 2023 alone, a remarkable 553 newborns were given the name Cassian.
In total, from 1997 to 2023, there have been 1791 babies named Cassian in the United States. This consistent and substantial increase over time indicates that the name Cassian is becoming increasingly popular among American parents.