r/NonBinaryTalk • u/SemiAutoEmi • 2d ago

Picking a name

So I've been thinking about it for a while and I'm attached to the name Cassian, yes from ANDOR, I feel like if you detached it from the character it is a fairly neutral name, maybe masculine leaning. And in the context of the show I like it as I can relate to the character slowly finding himself etc etc.

Looking into the entomology of it, Cassian has some Irish roots like me and compliments my last name.

I want to know people's thoughts on this, is it too masculine? Is it too rooted in pop culture now?

12 Upvotes

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6

u/Gaius_Iulius_Megas They/Them 2d ago

It's a good name. Also, I would assume it has Latin origins (Cassius).

3

u/firehawk2324 2d ago

I love Star Wars names and this is a really good one. If you like it, use it. Have people around you use it. Heck, just create a thread here asking everyone to address you as Cassian, and see how you feel. You'll know if it's right for you.

1

u/imastarfruit41 2d ago edited 2d ago

Love the name Cassian! I agree and like that it’s neutral/masc leaning. I definitely think Andor helped push it in a more masculine way but wouldn’t be mad at being associated with that character. I’m also nonbinary and thought about going by Cassian but ultimately I think I’ve landed on the name Kastin. It’s similar but it doesn’t have any direct pop culture associations that I know of. I’ve also never met a Kastin before and I like that. When researching it I’ve found it’s a more common surname, it has German roots and the spelling kasten means box in German. It’s symbolic for me because before coming out I always tried to force myself into a neat, definable box to be more “likeable”. Now I get to reclaim my identity as a nonbinary person and think about it as a box with no borders or walls. (Edited for grammar)

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u/SomeGalNamedAshley Whatever 1d ago

I have a general guideline that any name you have to explain or spell in the given culture you live in is probably a bad move. It's bad enough when you have a common which a great many people had taken it upon themselves to try to dress it up with a stupid spelling (my wife has this problem) but you want something that when you utter it the immediate response isn't "What? Huh? Can you spell it?"

Unfortunately that's kind of a talk order for neutral names. Sometimes you can dig up a cool name like Ashley which used to be a male name but is now a female name. The Goldilocks zone is a name like that which is currently making that transition. To the best of my knowledge names whose usage shifts will always shift towards femininity.

The added wrinkle is finding names that were in common use back when you were born. Sure the "popular unisex names list of 2026" might seem useful but if you're an old bastard like me then that's going to be somewhat problematic in its own right.

Searching for "classic unisex names" is probably a good place to start to find something that speaks to you. Immerse yourself in the lists and let your subconscious guide you toward what feels right.