Cassiopia
Feminine variant of the ancient Greek name Cassiopeia, derived from mythology.
Name Census estimates that about 43 living Americans carry the first name Cassiopia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cassiopia today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cassiopia births was 1986 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cassiopia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cassiopia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
43
~ 1 in 7,971,031 Americans
Peak year
1986
11 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1987 SSA rank
#8,111
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Cassiopia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cassiopia from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 38 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cassiopia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cassiopia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cassiopia
The name Cassiopia is a relatively rare and unique name with an intricate history. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Greek language and culture, where it is believed to have been derived from the word "kassiopeia," which was the name of a mythological figure in Greek mythology.
In Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was the vain and boastful wife of King Cepheus of Aethiopia. She was known for her exceptional beauty and for boasting that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, the sea nymphs who were known for their stunning looks. This arrogance angered the gods, particularly Poseidon, who sent a sea monster to ravage the kingdom as punishment.
The name Cassiopeia was also used in ancient astronomical texts to refer to a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. This constellation was named after the mythological figure and is said to depict Cassiopeia seated on a chair, eternally boasting about her beauty.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Cassiopia can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BCE. He mentioned a woman named Cassiopia who was a priestess at the temple of Hera in the city of Argos.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Cassiopia, although it has remained relatively uncommon. One such person was Cassiopia Gemina, a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 1st century CE and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
In the 12th century, there was a Cassiopia of Byzantium, a renowned scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on subjects such as logic, ethics, and metaphysics. Her works influenced the intellectual discourse of the Byzantine Empire during her time.
Another prominent figure with this name was Cassiopia of Verona, an Italian painter who lived in the 15th century and was known for her vibrant and expressive works depicting religious scenes and portraits.
In the 16th century, Cassiopia Vaux was an English courtier and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. She was known for her intelligence and wit, and was a respected member of the Queen's inner circle.
While the name Cassiopia has remained relatively rare throughout history, it has a rich and fascinating background rooted in Greek mythology, astronomy, and various cultural and historical contexts. Its unique sound and captivating etymology have made it a distinctive and intriguing choice for those seeking a name with a touch of ancient mystique.
People
Cassiopia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cassiopia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cassiopia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cassiopia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 43 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cassiopia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 7,971,031 US residents.
Is Cassiopia a common name?
We classify Cassiopia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 46 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cassiopia most popular?
The single biggest year for Cassiopia was 1986, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cassiopia is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cassiopia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cassiopia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cassiopia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cassiopia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cassiopia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cassiopia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Cassiopia?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.