Cassandra is a feminine given name of Greek origin, most famously borne by a Trojan princess in Greek mythology. The name derives from the Greek Kassandra (Κασσάνδρα), which is generally interpreted as meaning "to excel, to shine" (kekasmai) and "man" (aner), thus "shining upon men" or "she who entangles men." Alternative etymologies connect it to the Alexander family of names, with Cassandra being a variant of Alexandra in some accounts. Etymology Linguists have not reached a definitive etymology for Cassandra. Hjalmar Frisk's Griechisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch describes the derivation as "unexplained," though several hypotheses exist, including connections to the Greek verb kekasmai and aner. The name was also spelled Kasandra or Kassandra in ancient sources. In some traditions, particularly in Late Greek, Cassandra was interchangeable with the name Alexandra, as both forms appear for different figures in the same mythological cycles. Mythological Significance Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. According to myth, the god Apollo granted her the gift of prophecy in an attempt to win her favor. When she refused his advances, he cursed her so that her true prophecies would never be believed. During the Trojan War, Cassandra foresaw the destruction of Troy, the deaths of her family, and her own murder, but her warnings went unheeded. After the war, she was taken as a concubine by Agamemnon and killed by Clytemnestra either in Mycenae or on her journey there. Historical Usage and Revival In the Middle Ages, Cassandra was used in England due to the popularity of medieval romances recounting the Trojan War. It became rare after the medieval period but was revived in the 20th century, particularly in the English-speaking world. Its variants include the French Cassandre, Polish Kassandra, and Spanish Casandra. Common English diminutives include Cass, Cassie, Cassy, Kassie, and Kassy. In Contemporary Culture The name that has been embraced as a symbol of prophesied doom yet unheeded warning. This modern "Cassandra complex" was coined by the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard and later elaborated by psychoanalysts, denoting a person whose accurate predictions of disaster are dismissed. Notable bearers include the 20th-century Canadian author Cassandra Butkiewicz, composer Cassandra Jenkings, and American journalist Cassandra Quigman. Combined, both on a sense of female prophecy and disillusioned realism, Cassandra reminds me of many early Saint Quotations? Meaning: "Shining upon men" (from kekasmai "excel" + aner "man") Origin: Greek Type: Female given name Usage regions: English, French, Greek Related names: Kasandra, Kassandra, Cassandre