Cassandra

My mother's name is Sandra and I have always believed that the meaning of this name is "bringer of gift from heaven".

In the Greek myth Cassandra's name is a synonyme of Alexandra, that is why it has also the meaning : she who repels men (besides: she who excels).
Athough I love the name, her story is a sad one. After Troy was taken over by the Greeks, Cassandra looked for selter in the temple of the goddess Athena. There she was raped by a Greek warrior. Then she was given to Agamemnon, who fell deeply in love with her. It is said they had two children together, Teledamos and Pelopas. Agamemnon brought her with him back to Greece, where they were tragicly murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Egisthos.

I think this name is older than from the Ancient Greeks. The Ancient Persians had the name Cassandane before it evolved into Cassandra. Cassandane was the wife of Cyrus the Great.

Robert Fitzgerald, one of the leading Homeric translators, translated the name as "she who entangles men".

My parents said that when they looked up Cassandra after my sister was born they found it to mean "mystery." But since then I have not found it to mean that.

After studying ancient Greece I found out Cassandra means "she who entangles men" just so everyone knows.

When I started Ancient Greek lessons I decided to look into my favourite girl's name. I found several possible meanings - 'Bringing light to mankind' was our favourite. If I ever have kids then I'd name my daughter this - saying someone brings light to mankind is a pretty good name, I think.

I read in a magazine that it meant seductress of men.

Um, no, it does not mean "seductress of men". That is an error.

I wondered what Cassandra - my name - meant. I looked it up in the dictionary. The definition was this: "Greek Goddess means helper of men." My personal opinion is that some meanings are different than others.

It also means "helper of man" or in the dictionary "one who utters unheeded prophecies."