Kathy
Kathy is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Kathy originated as a diminutive of Katherine or Kathleen, ultimately deriving from the Greek word katharos. It became highly popular as an independent given name in the United States during the mid-20th century. Today, it remains a classic, familiar short name, though given less frequently to newborns.
Popularity in the United States
334,131 babies in the United States have been named Kathy since 1880. It ranks #114 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1699.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.2 %)
- OH (6.5 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
- IL (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 57 |
| 1920-1930 | 198 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,254 |
| 1940-1950 | 34,766 |
| 1950-1960 | 157,930 |
| 1960-1970 | 101,127 |
| 1970-1980 | 22,706 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,977 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,312 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,021 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,381 |
| 2020-2029 | 402 |
Famous people named Kathy
- Kathy Bates: Actress, Director
- Kathy Griffin: Comedian, Actress
- Kathy Baker: Actress
Nicknames
Kath, Kate
Fun facts
- Kathy peaked in popularity in the U.S. during the 1950s, spending several years in the top ten names for girls.
- Although originally a nickname for Katherine, Kathy gained widespread official registration as an independent legal first name.