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Kathy as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kathy

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The baby name Kathy is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KATH-ee (/ˈkæθi/),KAY-thee (/ˈkeɪθi/).

Kathy is German in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: German
Pronunciation: KATH-ee (/ˈkæθi/),KAY-thee (/ˈkeɪθi/)

What is the meaning of the name Kathy ?

The baby name Kathy is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KATH-ee (/ˈkæθi/),KAY-thee (/ˈkeɪθi/).

Kathy is German in Origin.

Kathy is an English diminutive of Katherine/Catherine, ultimately linked to Greek Aikaterine. While the exact root is debated, medieval folk etymology tied it to katharos, “pure,” which fixed the familiar meaning. The prestige of St. Catherine of Alexandria and later St. Catherine of Siena helped the Katherine family proliferate across Europe, producing many affectionate short forms.

As a nickname, Kathy has been used for centuries; as a stand‑alone given name it surged in the mid‑20th century, peaking in the United States and United Kingdom during the 1950s–60s before receding to a more vintage choice. Spelling variants include Cathy, Kathie, Kathi, and Cathi; related diminutives of Katherine are Kate, Katie, and Kitty. International counterparts of the root name include Katya/Katja, Katerina, and Katarina. The name carries the enduring sense of “pure” and an approachable, mid‑century charm.

Kathy has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kathy

Kathy Bates Actor · Born 1948 · United States Kathy Bates is an acclaimed American actress best known for her Oscar-winning role in Misery. Over a career spanning more than five decades, she has also been widely recognized for films and shows like Fried Green Tomatoes and American Horror Story, earning two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards along the way. Kathy Najimy Actor · Born 1957 · United States Kathy Najimy is an American actress best known for Hocus Pocus and for co-creating and performing in the feminist stage show The Kathy and Mo Show with Mo Gaffney. Born February 6, 1957, she first gained national attention through that play. Kathy Ireland Actor · Born 1963 · United States Kathy Ireland is best known as a supermodel, especially for appearing in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and landing three covers. She later became an actress, author, entrepreneur, fashion designer, and philanthropist.
Kathy Hilton Actor · Born 1959 · United States Kathy Hilton is an American socialite and television personality best known for her appearances connected to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and for being the mother of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton. She is also a fashion designer and actress, and the half-sister of Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Kathy Burke Actor · Born 1964 · United Kingdom Kathy Burke is an English actress and comedian best known for her role as Magda in Absolutely Fabulous. She also became well known through French and Saunders and Harry Enfield & Chums. Kathy Mattea Actor · Born 1959 · United States Kathy Mattea is best known as an American country and bluegrass singer. Since the 1980s, she has scored more than 30 Billboard Hot Country Songs hits, including well-known songs like "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses," "Where've You Been," and "455 Rocket."

Celebrity babies named Kathy

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Kathy Cash Johnny Cash rapper ★★★★★

Kathy – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2014 #1 — 947
FJ Girls 0 #8 2 583
HT 0 #12 1 399
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
SV Girls 0 #18 1 458
HN 0 #21 2 704
MO 0 #29 24 2,706
BN 0 #30 3 2,297
BI Girls 0 #33 1 726
HN Girls 0 #33 6 884
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
PR 0 #48 8 1,497
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
CN 0 #66 20 3,857
HK Girls 0 #71 2,079 16,104
PH 0 #71 26 5,607
PA Girls 0 #74 955 9,861
TW 0 #75 26 4,523
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
BG 0 #80 3 1,799
MO Girls 0 #84 203 7,056
CR 0 #88 71 5,526
QA 0 #88 13 7,011
JM 0 #91 3 3,714
BN Girls 0 #92 15 5,459
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
HK 0 #95 375 8,483
PA 0 #98 33 3,797
EC 0 #99 17 2,502
CN Girls 0 #101 412 8,829
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
CY Girls 0 #107 15 3,755
GE Girls 0 #108 1 1,564
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
KW 0 #120 2 5,216
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
MU 0 #130 8 3,613
PR Girls 0 #130 32 3,171
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
GR 0 #131 5 3,911
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
CR Girls 0 #134 793 11,342
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BW Girls 0 #137 12 4,216
EE Girls 0 #139 4 1,888
EC Girls 0 #140 104 3,650
MT Girls 0 #146 8 3,773
AE 0 #161 17 10,220
LU Girls 0 #161 25 4,850
TW Girls 0 #164 118 8,139
UY 0 #174 9 2,477
Sweden Girls 2013 #175 2 1,514
SI Girls 0 #177 1 2,769
NA Girls 0 #178 47 7,146
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
AR 0 #189 5 2,915
RU 0 #191 4 3,641
CL Girls 0 #198 2,160 14,098
GR Girls 0 #202 41 6,293
PE 0 #205 107 6,350
SG 0 #205 65 11,010
Belgium Girls 1996 #206 24 415
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
PE Girls 0 #207 2,285 14,861
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
HU Girls 0 #213 11 3,308
PH Girls 0 #213 191 13,098
AO Girls 0 #214 4 4,575
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
PS 0 #220 7 5,692
BG Girls 0 #230 2 3,559
JP Girls 0 #230 16 6,592
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
PT 0 #237 10 4,161
CL 0 #238 204 6,867
GT Girls 0 #239 335 7,500
BD 0 #240 2 5,992
QA Girls 0 #246 71 15,378
AO Boys 0 #247 3 5,568
JM Girls 0 #247 13 7,507
GH 0 #248 1 5,396
MY 0 #253 78 12,352
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
SG Girls 0 #259 403 18,916
IL 0 #264 11 6,291
NG 0 #267 6 5,926
GT 0 #277 38 5,948
Canada Girls 2024 #281 5 2,795
SA 0 #285 11 10,560
HR Girls 0 #290 5 3,687
MU Girls 0 #296 56 8,539
DK Girls 0 #305 12 7,429
GH Girls 0 #305 20 6,973
UY Girls 0 #314 231 6,731
Austria Girls 0 #327 94 1,885
CN Boys 0 #327 5 9,639
CZ Girls 0 #329 13 5,378
KZ Girls 0 #331 2 5,862
JO Girls 0 #333 7 7,570
ZA 0 #338 110 14,421
OM Girls 0 #352 45 15,987
BR 0 #355 6 5,969
SD Girls 0 #355 4 7,678
BO 0 #357 25 6,868
PL Girls 0 #357 8 5,096
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
MX 0 #363 51 8,339
NL 0 #363 29 2,481
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
Germany 0 #376 62 2,542
BO Girls 0 #378 256 9,488
Finland Girls 0 #381 11 1,368
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
CO 0 #392 89 7,768
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
France Girls 2021 #403 3 3,185
BD Girls 0 #404 3 8,413
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
PT Girls 0 #407 45 7,952
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
UY Boys 0 #411 3 5,922
Germany Girls 0 #415 564 4,949
Spain 0 #418 35 2,326
MY Girls 0 #421 763 24,821
KW Girls 0 #428 88 19,177
CO Girls 0 #429 1,169 16,140
CM Girls 0 #431 110 11,671
AE Girls 0 #452 102 20,968
RU Girls 0 #459 40 11,913
PA Boys 0 #466 16 9,305
ZA Girls 0 #469 1,060 25,928
AR Boys 0 #481 3 7,628
PS Girls 0 #485 39 10,981
IQ Girls 0 #494 11 11,303
GT Boys 0 #497 3 7,625
AR Girls 0 #499 101 8,289
CR Boys 0 #505 6 10,188
IR Girls 0 #506 25 8,334
HK Boys 0 #514 14 12,905
BH 0 #522 32 17,937
RU Boys 0 #522 5 12,621
IL Girls 0 #540 78 11,648
LY 0 #558 2 12,703
CM Boys 0 #573 3 12,054
Spain Girls 0 #579 455 5,561
NG Girls 0 #586 206 15,093
BO Boys 0 #620 3 9,244
LB 0 #621 38 13,263
NL Girls 0 #637 329 5,933
IN Girls 0 #649 6 13,121
CL Boys 0 #650 16 13,390
MX Girls 0 #653 702 17,781
IT 0 #668 47 4,183
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
Finland Girls 2026 #708 31 3,895
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
SY 0 #759 9 11,684
BR Boys 0 #781 5 12,213
SA Girls 0 #789 147 25,931
KW Boys 0 #803 4 18,755
TN 0 #820 10 13,765
United States Girls 2024 #853 64 8,487
PE Boys 0 #862 17 14,506
BR Girls 0 #865 77 12,708
CO Boys 0 #905 16 15,656
OM Boys 0 #913 6 17,948
EG Girls 0 #923 37 14,742
NG Boys 0 #998 4 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,028 6 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,038 2 16,750
IT Girls 0 #1,051 409 9,415
MA 0 #1,075 54 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,142 2 22,615
DZ 0 #1,147 30 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,164 15 25,619
MY Boys 0 #1,178 5 25,439
TR 0 #1,185 27 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,601 14 28,008

Kathy is popular in 89 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Canada
United States
Belgium

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Kathy

Kathy is predominantly a girl's name.
Kathy is a 2 syllable name, pronounced KATH-ee (/ˈkæθi/),KAY-thee (/ˈkeɪθi/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kathy, Kathie, Cathy, Katy, Katie and Kat.
Yes, very popular — Kathy ranked #1 in Ireland in 2014, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Kathy ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2014).
Kathy's popularity is rising. It moved from #409 in 2011 to #403 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 8 notable people named Kathy are in our database, including Kathy Bates (Actor), Kathy Najimy (Actor), Kathy Ireland (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Kathy for their child, including Johnny Cash.