I was a child in the 70s and I am stuck with the impression that the original inspirations for using
Cassidy as a first name were pretty boys
Shaun Cassidy - The
Justin Bieber of the early 70s, who looked like this
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7300000/Shaun-Cassidy-shaun-cassidy-7382979-761-869.jpg...and actor
David Cassidy who looked like this
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/David_Cassidy_umvd001.jpg
So that probably is part of why I have this impression that it's a pretty-boy name. The other part being, that it has sounds from feminine names (
Cassie,
Melody,
Charity) and none from masculine names I know, so it sort of "sounds feminine" to me. I struggle a little with imagining it as the first name of a guy. I don't like it!
I don't think it's unusable as a boy name. I think it's within normal limits, so to speak, for names of baby boys presently. I'm not sure whether my impression of pretty-boy-ness is totally out of date or not. As a middle name, I would assume it was a reference to a family surname.
- mirfak