What does Cassandra mean?
Cassandra is usually read “shining” or “excelling over men”; she is the tragic prophetess of Troy.
What does Ariana mean?
Usually traced to the Greek Ariadne, “most holy.”
Cassandra vs Ariana
Which is more popular?
Ariana is more popular than Cassandra today: about 2,219 US babies were given the name Ariana in 2025, compared with 463 named Cassandra.
| Cassandra | Ariana | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Shining upon men | Most holy |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kuh-SAN-druh | ar-ee-AH-nuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1902 | 1957 |
| Peak year | 1990 (7,054) | 2014 (5,504) |
| In 2025 | 463 | 2,219 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cassandra
Ariana
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cassandra | Ariana |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,796 | 16,532 |
| 2010s | 6,365 | 41,342 |
| 2000s | 20,128 | 38,010 |
| 1990s | 50,364 | 18,864 |
| 1980s | 44,911 | 4,685 |
| 1970s | 19,016 | 788 |
| 1960s | 16,765 | 154 |
| 1950s | 7,692 | 5 |
| 1940s | 2,660 | 0 |
| 1930s | 164 | 0 |
| 1920s | 76 | 0 |
| 1910s | 61 | 0 |
| 1900s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cassandra or Ariana more popular?
Ariana is more popular than Cassandra today: about 2,219 US babies were given the name Ariana in 2025, compared with 463 named Cassandra.
What is the difference between Cassandra and Ariana?
Cassandra means Shining upon men (Greek origin), while Ariana means Most holy (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Cassandra or Ariana?
In US records, Cassandra first appears in 1902 and Ariana in 1957, so Cassandra has the longer recorded history.