Casey is a gender-neutral given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Cathasaigh," which is composed of the elements "ó" meaning "descendant of," and "Cathasaigh" meaning "vigilant" or "watchful." Therefore, Casey means "watchful or vigilant person."
The name Casey has a long history in Ireland. It originated as a surname before becoming a popular given name for both boys and girls in the 20th century. In some cases, the name may also have been inspired by the Irish poem "Casey at the Bat," which was written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in 1888.
Today, Casey is a unisex name that is often chosen for its strong, confident sound and its historical ties to Ireland. It has gained popularity worldwide due to its appealing nature and unique origin story. Despite its Irish roots, Casey is now used globally, making it a truly international choice for parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar name for their child.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends related to the number of babies named Casey born annually in the United States over time.
From 1921 to 1948, the annual births with the name Casey ranged from 5 to 9. However, beginning in 1949, there was a significant increase in popularity, with 21 births that year. This trend continued through the 1950s, peaking at 62 births in 1956.
The 1960s saw a steady increase in popularity, with Casey reaching its peak during this decade, reaching as high as 145 births in 1969. This popularity carried over into the early 1970s, with a record-breaking 822 births in 1972.
The late 1970s and early 1980s marked another surge in popularity for the name Casey. In 1978, there were 1532 births, and this number continued to rise, reaching a peak of 2582 births in 1984.
However, starting from the mid-1980s, we can observe a decline in popularity for the name Casey. From a high of 3423 births in 1986, the numbers began to decrease steadily year by year until reaching a low of 233 births in 2020.
In recent years, there has been some resurgence in popularity for the name Casey, with 251 births in 2021 and 285 births in 2022. However, these numbers are still significantly lower than the peak decades of the late 1960s to early 1970s and the late 1970s to early 1980s.
Overall, while the name Casey has seen periods of significant popularity in the United States over the years, it appears that its popularity has waned somewhat in recent decades.