Given name & surname
Kathy
“one who is pure; virginal”
In English use, Kathy is a diminutive of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Kathy is a diminutive of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Filipino usage, Kathy is a diminutive of Kathleen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1910. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Kathy is a diminutive of Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Kathy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 334,870
- 739 boys · 334,131 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 23,983 babies
- 2025
- 48
- #3,274 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −39%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 48 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,274 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 38.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 23,938 in 1958. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 288,053 as a first name in 2020; 120 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kathy’s family of names
In Filipino usage, Kathy is a diminutive of Kathleen. Kathy has a related form in Katherine. In English usage, Kathy is a diminutive of Katherine.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kathy has relatives in 3 languages.
9 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Katherinefull form · Tagalog, English
- Kathleenfull form · Tagalog, English
- Cathyvariant · English, Tagalog
- Katheelikely variant
- Kathyelikely variant
- Kathievariant · English, Tagalog
- Kathivariant · Tagalog, English
- Cathievariant · Tagalog, English
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 32
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Catalinaequivalent
- Catherineequivalent
- Kateequivalent
- Katieequivalent
- Katarinaequivalent
- Catarinaequivalent
- Katiaequivalent
- Katrinaequivalent
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Katyequivalent
- Caterinaequivalent
- Ekaterinaequivalent
- Katharinaequivalent
- Catharinaequivalent
- Cathrynequivalent
- Karinequivalent
- Katjaequivalent
- Katheequivalent
- Katarzynaequivalent
- Katequivalent
- Catharineequivalent
- Katharelated form
- Katrinequivalent
- Katalinequivalent
- Katriinequivalent
- Jekaterinaequivalent
- Kateřinaequivalent
- Kétniborrowing · pot
- Katniborrowing · pot
- Katrijnequivalent
- Екатеринаequivalent
- Ekaterineequivalent
- Katriinaequivalent
People named Kathy
- Kathy AckerAmerican novelist, playwright, essayist, and poet (1947–1997)
- Kathy Hochul57th governor of state New York since 2021born 1958
- Kathy BakerAmerican actress (born 1950)
- Kathy GriffinAmerican actress and comedianborn 1960
- Kathy ReichsAmerican writer and forensic anthropologistborn 1948
- Kathy NajimyAmerican actressborn 1957
- Kathy IrelandAmerican model and businesswomanborn 1963
- Kathy HiltonAmerican actress and television personality (born 1959)
- Kathy KirbyBritish singer (1938–2011)
Characters named Kathy: Kathy Kane (character appearing in DC Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kathy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kathrine
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Karen
“one who is pure; virginal” · “one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Katri
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Ketty
“one who is pure; virginal” · “of the cauldron”
>99% girls
Kath
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Vicky
“victory”
>99% girls
Carlotta
“free man” · “a small, strong woman”
>99% girls