Kathey
A variation of the feminine name Katherine, of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Name Census estimates that about 1,113 living Americans carry the first name Kathey. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kathey today is around 69 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kathey births was 1956 (126 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kathey. 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 Kathey is about 69 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Katheys were born before 1967.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 307,955 Americans
Peak year
1956
126 babies that year
Average age
69
years old
1977 SSA rank
#8,961
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Kathey: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kathey from the 1930s through to the 1970s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 877 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kathey 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 Kathey during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Katheys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 16 states and territories. Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Kathey, while Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 39 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kathey
The name Kathey is a variant spelling of the feminine name Katherine, which has its origins in the Greek name Aikaterine. The name Aikaterine is derived from the Greek words "katharos" meaning "pure" and "hagne" meaning "virginal." The name was popular in the Christian tradition due to its association with purity and virtue.
The name Kathey gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in England and other parts of Europe. It was often used as a diminutive or nickname for Katherine, and over time, it evolved into its own distinct name. The earliest recorded use of the name Kathey dates back to the 13th century.
In medieval times, the name Kathey was associated with several notable figures, including Saint Katharine of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr who was venerated for her wisdom and courage. The legend of Saint Katharine's life and martyrdom was widely celebrated in literature and art during the Middle Ages, further popularizing the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kathey can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Caterin," a variant spelling of Katherine.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kathey or its variants. These include Kathey Browne (1598-1660), an English Puritan writer and poet; Kathey Ferrier (1712-1789), a Scottish novelist and philosopher; and Kathey Mansfield (1888-1923), a renowned New Zealand writer known for her modernist short stories.
Additionally, Kathey Hepburn (1907-2003), the famous American actress and cultural icon, was born Katharine Hepburn but often went by the nickname "Kathey." Similarly, Kathey Jackson (1959-present), the American singer and actress, was born with the name Katherine but uses the more informal spelling "Kathey."
Overall, the name Kathey has a rich history spanning centuries and cultures, with its roots firmly grounded in Greek tradition and its association with purity and virtue. While a variant spelling, it has become a distinct name in its own right, carried by notable figures throughout history.
People
Kathey + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kathey as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kathey: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kathey?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,113 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kathey 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 307,955 US residents.
Is Kathey a common name?
We classify Kathey as "Rare". It ranks above 90.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,600 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kathey most popular?
The single biggest year for Kathey was 1956, when 126 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kathey is about 69 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kathey a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kathey 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.