Cassiopeia
A girl's name of Greek origin with 380 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Proud wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda, queen of Ethiopia. When she boasted that her beauty was equal to that of the Nereids, she was punished by Poseidon.
Cassiopeia is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek mythological queen of Ethiopia, whose name means 'she whose words excel' or is possibly related to kassia ('cinnamon'). Her vanity led to her daughter Andromeda being sacrificed, and after her death she was placed among the stars.
Cassiopeia is one of the most recognizable constellations in the Northern Hemisphere — the W-shaped queen immortalized in the night sky. As a name, it is celestial, mythological, and gloriously unusual, with a four-syllable sweep that feels truly epic.
EtymologyShow more
Cassiopeia is built from 10 letters and three syllables — a longer structure that creates presence and allows for natural nickname formation. Within the Greek naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Cassiopeia creates its characteristic open, elegant quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cassiopeia climbed 3296 spots in the last 20 years — from #11819 to #8523.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 74 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 84 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 50 | — |
| 1990s | 54 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 109 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 9 | — |
The Story of Cassiopeia
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Cassiopeia is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Cassiopeia are most likely born between 2012 and 2024.
How rare is Cassiopeia?
Only about 1 in every 300,000 babies born in 2024 was named Cassiopeia — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1979, peaked in the 1980s with 109 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Cassiopeia by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Cassiopeia per day would take 1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(39 years, 1979–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | #8523 |
| 2023 | 18 | #6464 |
| 2022 | 18 | #6502 |
| 2021 | 16 | #7022 |
| 2020 | 10 | #9698 |
| 2019 | 11 | #9238 |
| 2018 | 12 | #8713 |
| 2017 | 10 | #10111 |
| 2016 | 7 | #13174 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11076 |
| 2014 | 12 | #9094 |
| 2013 | 5 | #17060 |
| 2012 | 5 | #17400 |
| 2011 | 5 | #17298 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12504 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18153 |
| 2005 | 12 | #9011 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11819 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10391 |
| 2001 | 6 | #13837 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cassiopeia a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cassiopeia most popular?
How popular is the name Cassiopeia?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1979–2024