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Catha
How to Pronounce Catha
Pronounced KATH-uh /ΛkæθΙ/Medium
Meaning: Catha is a short form of Catherine, or a streamlined version of Cathy, both from the Greek Aikaterine (Katharina). The name has long been linked with the Greek word 'katharos,' meaning 'pure,' a connection made early in its history even if it may be a folk association. Catha trims the full name to a crisp two syllables.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Catha is a compact short form of Catherine, one of the great classic names of Christian Europe. Catherine descends from the Greek Aikaterine, and by the Middle Ages it was firmly associated with 'katharos,' Greek for 'pure.' Familiar short forms include Kate, Cathy and Katie; Catha is a rarer clipping that keeps the soft -th- sound of the fuller name.
Catha was never common, given to only about twenty girls a year even at its peak in the late nineteen-fifties, with light use stretching back to the early twentieth century. A girl named Catha at that peak would be in her late sixties today, and the name has an old-fashioned, vintage warmth.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Catha mean?
It is a short form of Catherine, long linked to the Greek 'katharos,' meaning pure.
How do you pronounce Catha?
It is said KATH-uh, two syllables with the stress on the first.
Is Catha a boy or girl name?
Catha is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Catha?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year even at its peak in the late nineteen-fifties.