Given name & surname
Cass
“one who is pure; virginal”·“one who is empty; hollow; vain”
In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Catherine. One English interpretation is “one who is pure; virginal.” Its derivation is not certain. In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Cassius. One Latin interpretation is “one who is empty; hollow; vain.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Catherine. One English interpretation is “one who is pure; virginal.” Its derivation is not certain. In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Cassius. One Latin interpretation is “one who is empty; hollow; vain.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Cassandra. An origin associated with Cassandra is Greek. In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Cassius. An origin associated with Cassius is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Cass is a diminutive of Catherine. In English usage, Cass is a diminutive of Cassandra.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Cass is a diminutive of Cassiopeia. The history of Cassiopeia gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Cassiopeia is associated with the mother of Andromeda.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Cass through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,993
- 1,860 boys · 133 girls
- Most popular year
- 1989
- 43 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #5,068 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 19 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,068 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 12.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 43 in 1989. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,085 as a first name in 2020; 7,379 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cass’s family of names
In English usage, Cass is a diminutive of Catherine. Cass has a related form in Cassandra. In English usage, Cass is a diminutive of Cassandra.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Cass
- Cass SunsteinAmerican legal scholar, writer, blogger (b. 1954)
- Cass GilbertAmerican architect (1859-1934)
- Cass BallengerAmerican politician (1926-2015)
- Cass McCombsAmerican musician (born 1977)
- Cass DaleyAmerican actress, singer, comedian (1915-1975)
- Cass BrowneEnglish musician and writerborn 1971
- Cass Bauer-BilodeauAmerican basketball player (born 1972)
- Cass PhangHong Kong female singerborn 1969
- Cass FoxBritish musicianborn 1982
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cass, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cory
“from the hollow; of the churning waters” · “of the heart”
94% boys · 6% girls
Terran
“man of the earth”
94% boys · 6% girls
Orestes
Orestes is a given name from Ancient Greek. It is used in Portuguese.
>99% boys
Demetrius
“a follower of the goddess Demeter”
>99% boys
Romulo
“legendary founder of Rome”
>99% boys
Jorde
>99% boys
Deon
“of the sacred spring”
99% boys · 1% girls
Dimitri
“a follower of the goddess Demeter”
>99% boys