The name Cassandra is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "prophetess". Cassandra is ranked #606 on our popularity charts and is often added to lists like Mythology Baby Names for Girls and discussed in our forums with posts like "Three Strikes, You're Out -- Girls".
From the experts:
The name of the tragic mythological Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but was condemned never to be believed, Cassandra has been used for exotic characters in movies and soap operas. Ethereal and delicate, Cassandra was in the Top 70 throughout the 1990s, but is now descending in popularity.
Cassandra was the name of Jane Austen's mother, sister and two cousins. Cassandra Wilkins is a character in John Dos Passon's novel Manhattan Transfer, but in the 2007 Woody Allen thriller, Cassandra's Dream, Cassandra was not the name of a person, but a sailboat.
Currently, Cassandra Wilson is a noted jazz singer; Charlie Sheen has a daughter Cassandra born in the eighties.
Nicknames include Cass, Cassa, Cassie, Sandra, Sandy
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Comments
5sparrows Says:
Cassandra Veronica O'Neala Law Says:
Ha
bordercollie Says:
Cassandra is a gorgeous, sophisticated name, but I can see it coming off as quite snobby if used in full without any nicknames. However, Cassandra, nn Cassie, would be adorable.
lillismonica Says:
Me too. I dislike Sandra. Cassandra is beautiful, flowing, graceful. So unusual. Phoebe and clodia are other classical names I love.
hermioneameliastyles Says:
I think this nickname Cassie could work for this name.
Hylian Wizard Says:
Moisturise me! Now that's the only thing I can think of when I hear this name.
kpearl8 Says:
I really dislike the name Sandra and most names with Sandra in them, but for some reason Cassandra is one of my favorite names ever. I think it's the emphasis or something...
Swan Says:
Cassandra/Kassandra does not mean prophetess, not even slightly. It's a feminisation of the Greek male name Cassander. The 'andra' is from 'andros' meaning 'of man'. The 'cass' could have several roots, depending on how you look at it. The real origin is uncertain. Proto Indo European 'skand' meaning shine/light? Arabic al-qasr as in castle (via later Arabic kasbah), meaning fortress? So 'Light of Man'? 'Fortress of man?' Either of these meanings would be acceptable, and you can see why Homer choose it for his character - she was the light of mankind for sure, the only one capable of warning them. But nope, definitely not prophetess.
Zoey_Artemisia Says:
Cassandra was a prophetess, but the meaning of her name is 'she who entangles men'
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Cassandra was the beloved older sister of Jane Austen