Cathy
Meaning
pure (short for Catherine, a common refugee-generation English name)
The formal names behind Cathy
Cathy is an established short form of this name.
Catherine · Greek origin · traditionally "pure"
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Cathy peaked in the 1950s.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
22 people · the #116,443 first name in Brazil · median age 46
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Cathy
Most people given the name Cathy in the United States were born between 1950 and 1969. The Cathy you meet today is most often in her 60s or 70s.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Cathy deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Cathy truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Cathy fits with your family’s names and surname.
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