The name is of uncertain origin or meaning, it has been linked with the Latin cassus, meaning “hollow, empty, vain,” and the Latin cassis (metal helmet). It has also been suggested to be of Etruscan origins. It was the name of a Roman gens, which produced such Roman notables as Gaius Cassius Longinus (died 42 C.E.) who was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar; and Roman historian Cassius Dio (died 235 C.E). The Via Cassia is a namesake of the same clan.
The name was subsequently borne by several early saints, including Cassius of Clermont (3rd-Century C.E.) and Cassius of Narni (d. 558 C.E.). Its feminine forms of Cassia & Cassiana are also borne by several female saints.
A more recent notable bearer is Cassius Clay (1942-2016), which was the birth name of the American Boxer, Muhammed Ali, who was in turn named for his father who was named after the American abolitionist and politician Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr (1810-1903).
Cassius has been in and out of the U.S. Top 1000 since 1880, between 1880-1895, it was among the Top 1000 and peaked at #425 in 1880. Between 1896-1964, the name did not appear in the U.S. Top 1000. He made a brief appearance in 1964 coming in as the 859th most popular male name. His sudden appearance in 1964 may be due to Muhammed Ali winning the world heavyweight championship of the same year. Between 1964-2008, Cassius was once again expelled from the top 1000. As of 2018, Cassius was 595th Most Popular Male Name in the United States. In England & Wales, he ranks in at #333.
Traditionally pronounced CASH-es in English, it is often shortened to Cash. Another form is Cassian (KASH-en).
Other forms include:
- Kasi (Basque)
- Kasian (Breton)
- Cassi, Cássius (Catalan)
- Kasije (Croatian, Serbian)
- Kasián (Czech)
- Cassianus (Dutch, Latin)
- Cassius, Kassius (Dutch, German)
- Cassian (German, Occitanian)
- Kassian (German)
- Cassie, Cassien (French)
- Cassiano, Cassio (Italian)
- Casiano, Casio (Spanish)
- Kasiani (Kiswahili)
- Kasijus (Lithuanian)
- Kasjusz, Kasjan (Polish)
- Cássiano, Cássio (Portuguese)
- Kassij Кассий, Кассій (Russian, Ukrainian)
Feminine forms include:
- Cássia, Cássiana (Catalan, Portuguese)
- Kasija (Croatian, Lithuanian, Serbian)
- Cassia, Cassiana (English CASH-uh, Italian, Occitanian)
- Cassiane, Cassienne, Cassie (French)
- Kasja, Kasjana (Polish)
- Kassija (Russian, Ukrainian)
- Casia, Casiana (Spanish)
Sources