How Many People Are Named Cathy?
Complete statistics for the name Cathy: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Cathy is a variant of Catherine, rooted in the Greek name Aikaterine and often associated with the meaning 'pure.' About 142,541 people named Cathy are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 2,315 Americans. Its biggest claim to fame is a 15-year run in the US top 10, which tells you just how dominant this name once was.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 3 is traditionally linked to creativity, self-expression, and a natural gift for communication. People associated with 3 are thought to bring joy and optimism to those around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 66All 170,634 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1958Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Cathy Through the Generations
Cathy had a remarkable run in mid-century America, peaking in 1958 with nearly 11,000 babies born in a single year. Across all time, 170,634 people have been given the name in the US, and the fact that 142,541 are still living suggests relatively low attrition so far, though that number will fall sharply as the decades pass. The age story here is striking: 82% of all living Cathys are over 60, with 139,712 in that group alone. Only 1,892 are under 30, which is close to nothing. The average age of 66 confirms this is overwhelmingly a Baby Boomer name. Parents simply stopped choosing it, and the trend has been declining ever since the 1960s boom faded. It spent 15 years in the top 10, which speaks to genuine cultural dominance, but that era is long gone and Cathy now sits firmly in rare territory.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Cathy
Cathy is a feminine given name. It is a pet form of Catherine or Cathleen.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Cathy's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Cathy
How Many People Have the Name Cathy?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 312 people in the United States currently share the name Cathy. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,062,337 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Cathy a Common or Rare Name?
Cathy is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Cathy Mean?
Cathy means "pure, unsullied" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Cathy in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Cathy Most Popular?
The name Cathy reached peak popularity in 1958, with 10,961 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Cathy?
Approximately 312 people named Cathy live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 312. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,062,337 Americans.
Is Cathy a rare name?
Cathy is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,062,337 Americans has this name.
What does the name Cathy mean?
Cathy means "pure, unsullied" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Cathy more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Cathy are male and 100% are female.
When was Cathy most popular?
Cathy peaked in 1958 with 10,961 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.