The first name Cato
A boy’s name from Latin.
Pronounced /ˈkeɪ.toʊ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Cato last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2016, with 7 births (#2,804).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cato with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cato at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 45 boys born in the United States were named Cato, the 2,804th most popular boys’ name that 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.
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Cato mean?
- From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
- What is the origin of the name Cato?
- From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
- How popular is the name Cato?
- In 2024, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Cato, ranking 5,119th. Its peak was 2016, with 7 births.
- Is Cato a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 675 US babies named Cato since 1880 were boys.
- When was Cato most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 45 babies were named Cato, its highest rank at 2,804th.
- How do you pronounce Cato?
- Cato is /ˈkeɪ.toʊ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Cato also a surname?
- Yes. Cato is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.