Declining since 1985, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Cathy since 1918
Babies named Cathy per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 13 |
| 1920s | 118 |
| 1930s | 578 |
| 1940s | 15,550 |
| 1950s | 82,719 |
| 1960s | 51,624 |
| 1970s | 12,943 |
| 1980s | 3,662 |
| 1990s | 1,565 |
| 2000s | 916 |
| 2010s | 484 |
| 2020s | 131 |
Meaning & origin
Cathy emerged as a diminutive of Catherine and gained independent status in the mid-20th century. The name saw its peak popularity in 1958, when it ranked among the most favored names for girls, reflecting the trend of nickname-like given names in the 1950s. Since 1985, however, its usage has declined steadily; as of 2025, it ranks 8362 with a rarity of 1 in every 133,939 girls. The trajectory shows a clear falling pattern, indicative of its association with older generations. While Cathy may not be common among today's newborns, it retains a familiar and friendly feel, often remembered from mid-century culture.
Cathy is a diminutive of Catherine, which itself comes from the Greek Aikaterine. The name's meaning has long been linked to katharos (pure) due to early Christian association with Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Cathy gained independent popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, often used as a given name rather than a nickname.
Where Cathy is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Cathy” around the world
Where Cathy lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cat
Sibling names for Cathy
Names that share Cathy's style, for a brother or sister.
