Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1953

Cathey

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Cathey
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1953
157 babies
All-time total
2,216
#4,404 all-time among girls
First recorded
1939
in Social Security records

Cathey popularity over time

2,216 babies have been named Cathey since 1939, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1953Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s 6 1 – #3,825
1940s 410 41 +6733% #896
1950s 1,200 120 +193% #724
1960s 477 48 -60% #1,200
1970s 108 11 -77% #2,456
1980s 15 2 -86% #10,501
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Cathey

Cathey is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1939, 2,216 American babies have been named Cathey. Its peak came in 1953, when 157 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 Cathey stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cathey?

The median living Cathey is about 70 years old; half are between 64 and 74. An estimated 1,800 people named Cathey are alive in the United States today.

median 70 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cathey year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 5 #10,606
1975 10 #5,586
1970 30 #2,456
1965 52 #1,547
1960 82 #1,200
1955 144 #804
1950 106 #858
1945 33 #1,402
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cathey, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cathey?

The median living Cathey is about 70 years old. Half of all living Catheys are between 64 and 74 years old.

How many people named Cathey are alive today?

An estimated 1,800 people named Cathey are alive in the United States, based on 2,216 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Cathey in 2025?

Cathey did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Cathey?

2,216 babies have been named Cathey in the United States since 1939, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cathey most popular?

Cathey peaked in 1953, when 157 newborns received the name.

Is Cathey a boy or girl name?

Cathey is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cathey rising or falling?

Cathey has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Cathey

Names that sound and feel close to Cathey: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cathey with similar names → More names starting with C →