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Name Lineage

    The first name Cathy

    A girl’s name.

    Pronounced /ˈkæθi/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    A diminutive of the female given name Catherine and of its variant forms, also used as a formal given name in the 20th century.

    Cathy is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Cathy last appeared in the official list in 2016, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 1996, with 9 births (#1,755).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    58
    babies named Cathy, 1996–2025
    #5,785
    rank in 2016
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cathy with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Cathy at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 12 girls born in the United States were named Cathy, the 8,463rd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1958, when 10,942 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    170,646
    babies named Cathy since 1880
    #8,463
    rank in 2025
    1958
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Cathy

    27 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Cathy Freeman
      Australian short-distance runner, born 1973
    • Cathy Moriarty
      Actress, born 1960
    • Cathy Weseluck
      Canadian actress (born 1970)
    • Cathy O'Donnell
      American actress (1923–1970)
    • Cathy Berberian
      American mezzo-soprano and composer, 1925–1983
    • Cathy McMorris Rodgers
      American politician (born 1969)
    • Cathy Ferguson
      American swimmer, born 1948
    • Cathy Yan
      American director and producer, born 1983
    • Cathy O'Neil
      American mathematician, born 1972
    • Cathy Lee Crosby
      American actress, born 1944
    • Cathy Cavadini
      American voice actress, born 1961
    • Cathy Downs
      American actress (1924–1976)

    Questions

    How popular is the name Cathy?
    In 2016, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Cathy, ranking 5,785th. Its peak was 1996, with 9 births.
    Is Cathy a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 170,646 US babies named Cathy since 1880 were girls.
    When was Cathy most popular?
    1958 in the United States, when 10,942 babies were named Cathy, its highest rank at 34th.
    How do you pronounce Cathy?
    Cathy is /ˈkæθi/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Cathy?
    Cathi, Cathie, Kathi, Kathie and Kathy.