Cathi

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Cathi

Pronounced KATH-ee /ˈkæθi/High

Meaning: Cathi is a playful -i respelling of Cathy, the everyday short form of Catherine. The parent name goes back to Greek Aikaterine, long associated with katharos, 'pure'. The -i ending marks it as a mid-century informal styling.Medium

In 30 seconds: Cathi is the breezy -i spelling of Cathy (KATH-ee), short for Catherine — the Greek name tied to 'pure'.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Greek

MeaningCathi is a playful -i respelling of Cathy, the everyday short form of Catherine. The parent name goes back to Greek Aikaterine, long associated with katharos, 'pure'. The -i ending marks it as a mid-century informal styling.

U.S. rank (1990)#13296 ↘ Falling

1990 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,536

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cathi is one of the -i respellings of Cathy, the familiar short form of Catherine, a Greek name (Aikaterine) linked since antiquity to katharos, 'pure'. Mid-century parents fond of a casual, upbeat look often chose the -i ending over the plainer -y.

A woman named Cathi at its 1961 peak is now in her sixties, making it a mom-or-grandma-era name. It reads mid-century and has not revived, with Catherine and Kate the forms enjoying the current classic comeback. The practical note is spelling: people expect Cathy, so the -i draws a friendly correction.

Did you know? Cathi peaked back in 1961, when -i and -ie endings on short forms — Cathi, Debbi, Terri — were at their most fashionable.

Overall data confidence 72%

References — Cathi — Respelling of Cathy, short for Catherine (Greek Aikaterine)

Variations

CathyKathiCathie

Nicknames

CatCathy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cathi…

Cathy— the base short form Cathi respells

Kathy— the K- twin of the same nickname

Kathleen— a fuller same-era Catherine relative

Catherine— the classic parent name

Explore names like Cathi

By themerespelling nickname-name mid-century

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cathi mean?

Cathi is a short form of Catherine, a Greek name long linked to katharos, 'pure'.

How do you pronounce Cathi?

It's said KATH-ee /ˈkæθi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cathi a boy or girl name?

Cathi is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cathi?

Cathi was a mid-century favorite spelling that crested in the early sixties and has been quiet since.