Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given name Catherine and of its variant forms, also used as a formal given name in the 20th century.
Cathy is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive of Catherine, which derives from the Greek Aikaterine possibly meaning 'pure.' It became a popular stand-alone name in its own right during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Cathy comic strip by Cathy Guisewite ran for over three decades, giving the name a distinctly relatable, humorous personality. It carries the casual warmth of mid-century America and pairs effortlessly with a wide range of surnames.