Cattie
A feminine diminutive form of the name Catherine, derived from the Greek word "katharos" meaning "pure."
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Cattie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cattie today is around 97 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cattie births was 1891 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cattie. 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
- • The typical person named Cattie is about 97 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Catties were born before 1939.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cattie. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1891
8 babies that year
Average age
97
years old
1940 SSA rank
#4,459
Tracked since 1886
Popularity
Cattie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cattie from the 1880s through to the 1940s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1890s, with 24 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1890s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cattie 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 Cattie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Catties live
Origin
Meaning and history of Cattie
The given name Cattie is believed to have originated from the Old English language, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. The name is thought to be a diminutive or pet form of the name Catherine, derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning "pure" or "innocent."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cattie can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Catta," likely a variant spelling or nickname for Catherine.
During the Middle Ages, the name Cattie was relatively uncommon but held a certain charm and simplicity. It was often used as a nickname or affectionate form of the more formal Catherine, especially among the lower classes and rural communities.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Cattie was Cattie Brice, a Scottish noblewoman and courtier who served as a lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots. Brice was born around 1540 and played a significant role in the turbulent events surrounding the Scottish monarch's reign.
Another historical figure with the name Cattie was Cattie Hannay, a Scottish woman who lived in the 17th century. She was accused of witchcraft during the infamous Scottish witch trials and was ultimately executed in 1649 for her alleged involvement in sorcery.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Cattie Harvey was a British artist and engraver known for her intricate etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural scenes. She was born in 1725 and exhibited her works at the Society of Artists in London.
In the 19th century, Cattie Newell was an American educator and advocate for women's rights. Born in 1815, she founded the Newell Institute, a prestigious school for young women in Pennsylvania, and was actively involved in the early suffrage movement.
While the name Cattie has its roots in antiquity, it has remained a relatively uncommon choice throughout history, often overshadowed by the more popular variants of Catherine. However, its enduring charm and connection to the past have ensured that it continues to hold a unique place in the annals of given names.
People
Cattie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cattie 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
Cattie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cattie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cattie 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Cattie a common name?
We classify Cattie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 89 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cattie most popular?
The single biggest year for Cattie was 1891, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cattie is about 97 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cattie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cattie 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.
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.