UK name, mostly girls
Casey
A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "brave" or "watchful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 4,579 boys.
Casey is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Casey popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1449, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 463 births.
This profile covers 7,018 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 8,370 living people in the UK are called Casey. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Casey ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 463 girls were registered as Casey.
- • Casey ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #253 in 2024.
- • Casey is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 8,370 living people in the UK are estimated to have Casey as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 60.5% of Casey registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1449
2024
Births in 2024
22
Latest year
Peak year
2007
463 births
Estimated living
8,370
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Casey
In England and Wales birth records, Casey has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 39.5% of registrations are for boys and 60.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Casey registered for boys
- Ranked #244 in 2024
- 200 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (202 births)
Casey registered for girls
- Ranked #1,449 in 2024
- 22 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (463 births)
Meaning
What does Casey mean?
The name Casey has its origins in the Irish Gaelic language, deriving from the surname Ó Caisídhe, which means "descendent of the watchful one." It is believed to have emerged as a given name in the late 18th or early 19th century, primarily used in Ireland.
In ancient Irish mythology, the name is associated with the mythological figure Cásídhe, a renowned druid and seer known for his wisdom and prophetic abilities. This connection lends the name a sense of mysticism and foresight.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Casey can be found in the Irish Annals, which document the exploits of various noble families and individuals throughout Irish history. The name appears in reference to several historical figures, although exact dates are uncertain.
The first notable bearer of the name Casey was Cáisídhe Ó Maolchonaire (c. 1150-1220), a renowned Irish scholar and poet who was celebrated for his mastery of the Irish language and his contributions to the preservation of ancient Irish literature.
Another prominent figure was Tadhg Ó Caisídhe (c. 1450-1520), a Irish chieftain and warrior who played a significant role in the ongoing conflicts between Irish clans and the English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
In more recent history, Casey Stengel (1890-1975) was a legendary American baseball player and manager, best known for his tenure as the manager of the New York Yankees. He led the team to seven World Series championships and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
Casey Jones (1863-1900) was an American railroad engineer who became a folk hero after sacrificing his life to prevent a train collision. His story was immortalized in the famous ballad "The Ballad of Casey Jones," which celebrated his bravery and dedication.
Casey Stoney (born 1982) is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender for several clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool. She also represented the England national team and is currently the head coach of the Manchester United Women's team.
While the name Casey has gained popularity across various cultures and regions, its roots can be traced back to the rich heritage of Irish language and mythology, imbuing it with a sense of wisdom, foresight, and bravery.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Casey over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Casey in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Casey, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 463 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Casey by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Casey was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1135 | 156 | 5 |
| 2010s | #409 | 1,459 | 10 |
| 2000s | #131 | 3,948 | 10 |
| 1990s | #138 | 1,455 | 4 |
Geography
Where Casey is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Casey. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Casey ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #253 in 2024.
Across the UK
Casey in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#476 in 2024
43 years of NRS records, 943 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#253 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 460 total registered
Related
Names similar to Casey
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Cara 6,375
- Ciara 5,845
FAQ
Casey: questions and answers
How popular is the name Casey in the UK right now?
In 2024, Casey was ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.
When was Casey most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 463 babies registered as Casey in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Casey?
A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "brave" or "watchful".
How many people are called Casey in the UK?
A total of 7,018 babies have been registered as Casey across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 943 more in Scotland and 460 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Casey most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Casey ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #253 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.