Casimir is a name of Polish origin, derived from the Slavic word "kasimyr," which means "destroyer of peace." Despite its somewhat aggressive-sounding meaning, Casimir was actually a popular choice among medieval royalty, with several notable figures bearing the name.
The most famous bearer of this name is likely Saint Casimir, a 15th-century prince of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Born in 1458 to King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, he was known for his piety and humility, despite being heir to the throne. He died at the age of just 27, but his reputation for holiness lived on, and he was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1630.
Other notable figures with the name Casimir include Casimir III the Great, a 14th-century king of Poland who significantly expanded the kingdom's territories, and Casimir II the Just, also known as Casimir the Restorer, who reigned in the early 12th century. Both of these rulers were respected for their wisdom and justice.
Today, Casimir is still used as a given name, particularly in Slavic-speaking countries like Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. It remains a strong and distinctive choice, with a rich history behind it.
The name Casi has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. The peak of its usage was during the late 70s to early 80s, with a total of 45 births recorded in 1981 and 44 births in 1982. This indicates that Casi was quite popular as a baby girl name during this period.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline after the mid-80s. There were still notable years like 1986 with 53 births and 1987 with 50 births, but the trend was generally downward. By the early 90s, the number of newborn girls named Casi dropped significantly, with only 20 births in 1994.
The late 90s and early 2000s saw a further decrease in the usage of the name Casi. There were years like 1997 with 27 births and 1998 with 18 births, but these figures were significantly lower than the peak years in the late 70s to early 80s.
The trend continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with the name Casi barely registering on the radar. There were only 5 births each in 2005 and 2009, and the most recent data from 2022 shows that there were just 5 newborn girls named Casi.
Overall, while Casi was a popular baby girl name at its peak, it has since seen a significant decline in popularity. However, it's important to note that even with the decrease in usage, there are still babies being named Casi each year, indicating that the name still holds some level of appeal for parents.