Home › Baby Names Directory › Cathy

Cathy

♀ Girl

Pronounced KATH-ee /ˈkæθ.i/High

Meaning: A pet form of Catherine/Cathleen — from Greek katharos, 'pure, clean'Medium

In 30 seconds: Pure: Cathy pets Catherine — 'pure'. Sweet, sunny, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumGreek

MeaningA pet form of Catherine/Cathleen — from Greek katharos, 'pure, clean'

U.S. rank (2024)#5968 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births20 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1958

Total births (all-time)≈ 170,291

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

Cathy is a pet form of Catherine/Cathleen — from Greek katharos, 'pure, clean'. A sweet, sunny, mid-century name (the comic strip Cathy; the impassioned Cathy Earnshaw of Wuthering Heights). Nicknames Cat, Cath.

It registers thinly today. Rare now, pure at the root, and sunny.

Did you know? Catherine means 'pure' (Greek katharos) — Cathy is its sweet, sunny pet form (the passionate Catherine of Wuthering Heights is 'Cathy'; the comic strip Cathy) — warm and friendly.

Overall data confidence 68%

Behind the Name — Cathy — root etymology

Variations

CathieKathyCathleen

Nicknames

Cat

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cathy…

Kathy— a fellow spelling

Catherine— the full name

Maisie— a similarly popular pick

Dorothy— echoes that soft -hy sound

Ellen— a fellow Greek choice

Explore names like Cathy

By themegreek vintage nickname-name

By meaningPurity

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cathy mean?

Cathy pets Catherine — Greek 'pure'.

How do you pronounce Cathy?

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

Is Cathy a boy or girl name?

Cathy is a girl's name.

How popular is Cathy?

Cathy is a rare name in the U.S. today.