Kathy
Meaning
diminutive of Katherine, traditionally pure
The formal names behind Kathy
Kathy is an established short form of this name.
Katherine · Greek origin · linked since early Christian times to katharos, "pure," though the name's true root is older and debated; borne by saints, empresses of Russia, and centuries of English queens consort. The K-classic behind Kate, Katie, Kay, and Kitty
Kathy around the world
One shared root links 26 names across 8 languages.
Shared root: from Greek Aikaterine, linked since early Christian times to katharos "pure", though the name's true origin predates that folk etymology
The constellation
18 more branches of this family
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Kathy peaked in the 1950s.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
336 people · the #17,615 first name in Brazil · about 1 in 500,000 · median age 32
Among people named Kathy living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Kathy
Most people given the name Kathy in the United States were born between 1950 and 1969. The Kathy 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 Kathy deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Kathy 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 Kathy fits with your family’s names and surname.
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