Cassandra f. Greek Κασ(σ)άνδρα, of uncertain etymology. The second element may be derived from Greek ἀνήρ 'man', while de Felice s.n. Cassandra suggests that the prototheme is pre-Greek *kad- 'excel'. Another alternative, suggested by Beekes, derives the name from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kend- 'raise'.
In Greek mythology, the name of a daughter of King Priam of Troy and famous prophetess.
The name first came into use in England in the 12th C, a period where many fanciful names of Greek and Latin origin were introduced or coined. Many of these names remained in use only a century or two, but Cassandra appears again in England in the 16th C. In Italy, the name was introduced as part of the general revival of classical names in the Renaissance.