Casey

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAY-see /ˈkeɪ.si/High

Meaning: Vigilant, watchful; from Irish Gaelic Cathasach (watchful, vigilant)High

In 30 seconds: An Irish name meaning 'vigilant' or 'watchful,' from the Gaelic Cathasach. Known through the legend of Casey Jones and the poem Casey at the Bat, it crossed from a surname to a popular unisex given name in the 20th century.

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Origin HighIrish

MeaningVigilant, watchful; from Irish Gaelic Cathasach (watchful, vigilant)

U.S. rank (2025)#1065 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births228 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1987

Total births (all-time)≈ 78,097

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Casey derives from the Irish surname O'Casey, from Gaelic Cathasach (vigilant, watchful). It became a given name in the United States through the influence of Irish immigration and through cultural figures like the legendary locomotive engineer Casey Jones and the beloved 1888 poem Casey at the Bat.

Casey has been used for both boys and girls in the U.S. since the mid-20th century and peaked for girls in the 1980s–1990s. It ranked #1053 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Casey Jones (John Luther Jones, 1863–1900) was a real locomotive engineer whose heroic death in a train crash made him a folk legend — the song about him turned Casey into a byword for American courage.

Overall data confidence 89%

Behind the Name — Casey — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KaseyKaceyCasi

Nicknames

Case

Famous Bearers

★Casey Wilson (1980-)
American actress and comedian known for the sitcom Happy Endings and SNL
★Casey Donovan (1988-)
Australian singer who won the second season of Australian Idol
★Casey Johnson (1979-2010)
American socialite and heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune

If you like Casey…

Kasey— the K-spelling variant of the same name

Lacey— rhyming -acey name with the same friendly two-syllable sound

Stacy— two-syllable -acey name from the same era

Darcy— Irish surname name with the same casual, gender-neutral quality

Explore names like Casey

By themeunisex classic two-syllable irish surname-style

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Casey mean?

Casey means 'vigilant' or 'watchful,' from Irish Gaelic Cathasach, the root of the Irish surname O'Casey.

How do you pronounce Casey?

It's said KAY-see — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Casey a boy or girl name?

Casey is a well-established unisex name used for both boys and girls.

How popular is Casey?

Casey ranked #1053 for U.S. girls in 2024.