"brave in battle, vigilant"
Cayce
Pronunciation: [ k-AYS ]
A spirited Irish name with deep roots in American folklore
Meaning & Origin
"watchful, alert"
The Story of Cayce
Cayce is an alternate spelling of Casey, which derives from the Irish Gaelic surname O Cathasaigh, meaning descendant of Cathasach. Cathasach itself means vigilant or watchful in battle. The name transferred from an Irish clan surname to a given first name in the United States, where it became popular for both boys and girls. The Cayce spelling gives it a distinctive look while keeping the familiar KAY-see pronunciation.
Casey/Cayce gained widespread American popularity in the late 20th century, boosted by cultural touchstones like the folk ballad Casey Jones (1900) and the phrase Casey at the Bat. The name has been given to both boys and girls, making it one of the earlier successful gender-neutral names in American culture.
The name has strong American folklore associations through Casey Jones, the heroic railroad engineer, and Casey at the Bat, Ernest Thayer's 1888 baseball poem. Edgar Cayce (1877-1945), known as the Sleeping Prophet, gave the Cayce spelling historical visibility.
Fun Facts
- Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) was a famous American clairvoyant known as the Sleeping Prophet, giving the Cayce spelling historical visibility
- Casey Jones, immortalized in an 1900 folk ballad, was a real railroad engineer celebrated for his bravery
- Casey is one of the few originally male Irish names that became genuinely popular for girls
Cayce in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Famous People Named Cayce
Casey Stengel
Athlete
1890
Legendary American baseball manager who led the New York Yankees to five consecutive World Series titles
Edgar Cayce
Other
1877
American self-professed clairvoyant known as the Sleeping Prophet, famous for psychic readings given while in a trance s...
American self-professed clairvoyant known as the Sleeping Prophet, famous for psychic readings given while in a trance state
Casey Jones
Other
1863
American railroad engineer immortalized in folk song for his heroism during a train collision in 1900
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #5,791
- Total SSA Count
- 16
- Cultural Origins
- Irish American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
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Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Cayce is also used as a girl name, ranked #23792.
View Cayce as a girl name →Similar Names
Compare Cayce with...
Same Origin Names (Irish)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cayce
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About the Name Cayce
Cayce is a boy name with Irish and American origins . The name means "brave in battle, vigilant" in Irish Gaelic O Cathasaigh .
Is Cayce a boy or girl name? Cayce is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #5,791 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #23,792. Cayce is more commonly used as a boy name.
Cayce is currently ranked #5,791 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Cayce has 2 syllables and is pronounced k-AYS, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Cayce include Cay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.