Kasper

Meaning & origin

Kasper, a spelling variant of Casper, has seen a steady rise in usage in the United States since the mid-1980s. While the name first appeared on the U.S. Social Security list in 1912, it languished in obscurity for decades. However, its trajectory has been consistently rising since 1985, and in 2025 it reached an all-time peak rank of 1867. That year, 1 in every 20,334 newborn boys received the name. The states with the highest relative usage were Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, reflecting a concentration in the Midwest and Northeast. The name's association with the friendly ghost of children's cartoons has given it a playful, approachable image, while its ancient Persian origins and connection to one of the biblical Magi lend it a sense of dignity and history. Kasper fits comfortably alongside other classic-yet-modern names like Felix and Otto, and its rising popularity suggests it may continue to gain favor among parents seeking a name that is distinctive but not outlandish.

Kasper is a variant of Casper, which derives from the Persian name 'Gaspar' (or 'Jaspar'), meaning 'treasurer' or 'keeper of the treasure.' The name is traditionally associated with one of the three Magi (wise men) who visited the infant Jesus in the Christian Nativity story, though the biblical names of the Magi are not given in the Gospels; they appear in later Christian tradition. In various European languages, the name has been adapted as Kaspar, Casper, and Jasper. It has been in use as a given name in Scandinavia and Germany for centuries, and in English-speaking countries more recently.