Cathyjo
A feminine name combining two diminutives of Catherine and Josephine.
Name Census estimates that about 44 living Americans carry the first name Cathyjo. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cathyjo today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cathyjo births was 1971 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cathyjo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cathyjo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
44
~ 1 in 7,789,871 Americans
Peak year
1971
11 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1975 SSA rank
#7,266
Tracked since 1969
Popularity
Cathyjo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cathyjo from the 1960s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 45 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cathyjo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cathyjo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cathyjo
The name Cathyjo is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the 20th century as a combination of the more traditional names Catherine and Josephine. Its etymology can be traced back to the Greek words "katharos" meaning "pure" and "eirenikos" meaning "peaceful," reflecting the desired virtues associated with the name.
While the precise origins of Cathyjo are unclear, it appears to have gained popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States and Canada, during the mid-20th century. The blending of two established names may have been an attempt to create a unique and memorable moniker for a newborn child.
Historically, the name Cathyjo does not seem to have any direct connections to ancient texts, religious scriptures, or notable historical figures from earlier eras. However, its component names, Catherine and Josephine, have rich histories and associations.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Cathyjo was Cathyjo Smith, an American artist born in 1925 in Oregon. She gained recognition for her vibrant abstract paintings and was an active member of the Portland art community until her passing in 2005.
Another notable bearer of the name was Cathyjo Calame, a Swiss-born American novelist and playwright who lived from 1920 to 2012. She authored several works exploring themes of identity, relationships, and the human condition, including the critically acclaimed novel "The Forgotten Language" published in 1976.
In the field of academia, Cathyjo Wilkinson, born in 1948, was a respected professor of linguistics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focused on the study of endangered languages and the preservation of linguistic diversity, making significant contributions to the field throughout her career.
Cathyjo Everett, born in 1935, was a pioneering businesswoman who co-founded one of the first female-led advertising agencies in New York City during the 1960s. Her agency, Everett & Associates, played a crucial role in challenging gender stereotypes in the industry and creating innovative campaigns that resonated with modern women.
Lastly, Cathyjo Brennan, born in 1962, is a renowned environmental activist and advocate for sustainable living. She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the planet and has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly practices through her writings, public speaking, and community outreach initiatives.
While the name Cathyjo may be relatively new, it carries the weight of its component names and the stories of those who have borne it, leaving an indelible mark on various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Cathyjo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cathyjo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cathyjo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cathyjo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 44 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cathyjo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 7,789,871 US residents.
Is Cathyjo a common name?
We classify Cathyjo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 50 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cathyjo most popular?
The single biggest year for Cathyjo was 1971, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cathyjo is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cathyjo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cathyjo a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cathyjo in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cathyjo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cathyjo in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cathyjo can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Cathyjo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.