Cathy
Cathy is a diminutive of Catherine, derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning 'pure.' It became popular as an independent name in the mid-20th century, offering a friendly and approachable alternative to its more formal parent name.
Current Popularity
#8463 for girls
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce across most languages
- •Has a warm, 1950s-70s feel that's now making a comeback
- •Often used as a nickname for Catherine, but stands well on its own
- •Simple and unpretentious with universal recognition
Similar Names
Famous People
Cathy Guisewite
Cartoonist, creator of 'Cathy' comic strip
Cathy Freeman
Olympic gold medalist sprinter
Cathy Rigby
Olympic gymnast and actress
Cathy Moriarty
Actress, 'Raging Bull'
Statistics
170,303
Total births since 1880
1958
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.