Kathy
A diminutive of the female given names Katherine and Kathleen, also used as a formal given name.
Every Kathy since 1910 — 334,870 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kathy
Kathy is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,274 in 2025 with 48 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1910, 334,870 American babies have been named Kathy. Its peak came in 1958, when 23,983 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kathy stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kathy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48 | #3,274 | — | — |
| 2024 | 64 | #2,708 | — | — |
| 2023 | 60 | #2,834 | — | — |
| 2022 | 75 | #2,437 | — | — |
| 2021 | 72 | #2,469 | — | — |
| 2020 | 83 | #2,183 | — | — |
| 2019 | 76 | #2,365 | — | — |
| 2018 | 91 | #2,107 | — | — |
| 2017 | 111 | #1,849 | — | — |
| 2016 | 159 | #1,451 | — | — |
| 2015 | 126 | #1,690 | — | — |
| 2014 | 142 | #1,539 | — | — |
| 2013 | 139 | #1,560 | — | — |
| 2012 | 176 | #1,335 | — | — |
| 2011 | 171 | #1,352 | — | — |
| 2010 | 190 | #1,261 | — | — |
| 2009 | 204 | #1,222 | — | — |
| 2008 | 268 | #992 | — | — |
| 2007 | 294 | #921 | — | — |
| 2006 | 294 | #903 | — | — |
| 2005 | 286 | #884 | — | — |
| 2004 | 283 | #869 | — | — |
| 2003 | 308 | #803 | — | — |
| 2002 | 362 | #694 | — | — |
| 2001 | 343 | #716 | — | — |
| 2000 | 379 | #652 | — | — |
| 1995 | 409 | #564 | — | — |
| 1990 | 477 | #504 | — | — |
| 1985 | 617 | #370 | — | — |
| 1980 | 1,010 | #255 | 7 | #5,233 |
| 1975 | 1,689 | #160 | 12 | #3,153 |
| 1970 | 4,797 | #77 | 12 | #2,798 |
| 1965 | 7,762 | #54 | 21 | #1,753 |
| 1960 | 18,478 | #21 | 42 | #1,220 |
| 1955 | 15,324 | #22 | 32 | #1,354 |
| 1950 | 9,090 | #38 | 22 | #1,591 |
| 1945 | 2,753 | #101 | — | — |
| 1940 | 604 | #256 | — | — |
| 1935 | 99 | #671 | — | — |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,446 | — | — |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,514 | — | — |
| 1920 | 10 | #3,226 | — | — |
| 1915 | 10 | #2,803 | — | — |
| 1910 | 5 | #2,594 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kathy
- Kathy Bates Actor · b. 1948
- Kathy Reichs Writer · b. 1948
- Kathy Najimy Actor · b. 1957
- Kathy Baker Actor · b. 1950
- Kathy Acker Writer · 1947–1997
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kathy mean?
A diminutive of the female given names Katherine and Kathleen, also used as a formal given name.
How popular is the name Kathy in 2025?
Kathy ranked #3,274 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 48 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kathy?
334,870 babies have been named Kathy in the United States since 1910, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kathy most popular?
Kathy peaked in 1958, when 23,983 newborns received the name.
Is Kathy a boy or girl name?
Kathy is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kathy rising or falling?
Kathy is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kathy?
Well-known people named Kathy include Kathy Bates (actor), Kathy Reichs (writer), Kathy Najimy (actor).