Total births
30
Girls' name · since 1947
Cathay
Since 1947, U.S. Social Security records show 30 babies named Cathay, peaking in 1947. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 30
- total births
- 1947–1953
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- born in that decade
30 girls have been named Cathay since 1947, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Cathay recorded 30 times among girls since 1947, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1947 to 1953.
- 30 total births
- 1947–1953 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 57% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
30 girls have been named Cathay since 1947, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1953.
- 30
- total births
- 1947–1953
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
57% of everyone ever named Cathay was born in this single decade.
1947
Single peak year
7 babies were named Cathay in 1947 - its busiest year on record.
Cathay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Cathay splits its recorded history at 1950: 57% of all births land in the more recent half, 43% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1950 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1947 peak of 7 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Cathay at a glance
Last recorded 1953Peak year
1947
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1947
Cathay popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1947–1953
- Peak year (1947)
- 7
- Annual births at peak, across 7 years of records
Cathay by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Cathay's strongest decade.
17 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 57% of all-time use.
Cathay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s
1940s
13 births
- 1950s
1950s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 17 births (57% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Cathay? ▼
30 babies have been named Cathay since 1947. It was last recorded in 1953. The peak year was 1947 with 7 births.
When was Cathay most popular? ▼
Cathay was most popular in the 1950s decade with 17 total births. The single peak year was 1947.
How long has the name Cathay been used? ▼
Cathay has been recorded in Social Security data since 1947, spanning 7 years of data through 1953.
What names are similar to Cathay? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Catherine, Cathy, Catalina, Cathleen, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
Keep exploring Cathay
Nearby Names Like Cathay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cathay
Catherine Girl
#322 667,789 births
Cathy Girl
#5993 170,303 births
Catalina Girl
#128 33,009 births
Cathleen Girl
#8463 29,923 births
Cathryn Girl
#6650 16,332 births
Compare Cathay side by side: Cathay vs Catherine Cathay vs Cathy Cathay vs Catalina
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1947–1953 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Cathay: Baby Name Since 1947 - 30 Births, Peak 1947." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/cathay. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cathay draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.