Kathy is a diminutive of the name Katherine or Catherine, which are both derived from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning of Katherine is "pure" and it is believed to have been popularized by St. Catherine of Alexandria, who was a Christian martyr in the 4th century.
The use of the nickname Kathy began in the Middle Ages as a pet form of Katherine. It became more popular in the United States during the mid-20th century and has remained a common name since then.
Some famous people with the name Kathy include:
* Kathy Ireland, an American model and businesswoman
* Kathy Bates, an American actress known for her role in "American Horror Story"
* Kathy Griffin, an American comedian and actress
Overall, Kathy is a classic and timeless name that has been used for centuries. Its meaning of purity makes it a popular choice among parents looking for a name with positive connotations.
The name Kathy has seen a significant evolution in popularity over the past century in the United States, as reflected by the statistics provided.
In the early 20th century, Kathy was not particularly popular, with fewer than 15 births per year between 1910 and 1923. However, starting from 1926, there was a notable increase in the number of babies named Kathy, suggesting that the name began to gain traction among parents.
The peak of popularity for the name Kathy occurred during the post-World War II baby boom era. Between 1946 and 1957, the number of girls named Kathy skyrocketed from approximately 4,200 births in 1946 to over 23,000 in 1957, making it one of the most popular girl's names during that time.
However, like many other names that became popular due to societal trends or historical events, Kathy's popularity began to decline after the 1950s. By the early 1960s, the number of babies named Kathy started to decrease significantly, dropping below 7,000 births per year by 1964.
The name Kathy continued to lose favor throughout the remainder of the century, with fewer than 1,000 births per year occurring between 1980 and 2005. In recent years, Kathy has become quite rare, with fewer than 100 babies named Kathy each year since 2010.
In total, over the past century, approximately 334,014 girls have been named Kathy in the United States. While once a popular choice for parents, the name Kathy has fallen out of favor and is now considered quite uncommon. Nonetheless, it remains an historic and unique name with a rich history of usage during its heyday.
It's essential to remember that names often reflect the cultural zeitgeist of their time, and as societal trends change, so too do our naming preferences. The statistics for Kathy illustrate this well, demonstrating how a once-popular name can fall out of fashion over time.