Total births
2,536
Girls' name · since 1942
Cathi
Since 1942, U.S. Social Security records show 2,536 babies named Cathi, peaking in 1961. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,536
- total births
- 1942–1990
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
Cathi sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 2,536 recorded since 1942.
Social Security Administration records show Cathi recorded 2,536 times among girls since 1942, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1942 to 1990.
- 2,536 total births
- 1942–1990 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 39% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,536 girls have been named Cathi since 1942, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1990.
- 2,536
- total births
- 1942–1990
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Cathi was born in this single decade.
1961
Single peak year
162 babies were named Cathi in 1961 - its busiest year on record.
Cathi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Cathi splits its recorded history at 1966: 26% of all births land in the more recent half, 74% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1985 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1961 peak of 162 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Cathi at a glance
Last recorded 1990Peak year
1961
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1942
Cathi popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1942–1990
- Peak year (1961)
- 162
- Annual births at peak, across 49 years of records
Cathi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Cathi's strongest decade.
986 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Cathi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 194
1940s
194 births
- 1950s
1950s
956 births
- 1960s
1960s
986 births
- 1970s 292
1970s
292 births
- 1980s 103
1980s
103 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 986 births (39% of all-time use).
How Cathi compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Cathi's total volume
Cathi vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Cathi by state
Where Cathi concentrates geographically, total births since 1942
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 328 | 12.9% |
| #2 | Ohio | | 125 | 4.9% |
| #3 | New York | | 112 | 4.4% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 80 | 3.2% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 76 | 3.0% |
| #6 | Texas | | 68 | 2.7% |
| #7 | Indiana | | 57 | 2.2% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 53 | 2.1% |
California share of Cathi's total US births 12.9%
Even split
328 of 2,536 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 22 reporting states.
Cathi appears in 22 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Cathi? ▼
Since 1942, Social Security records show 2,536 babies named Cathi. The most recent recorded year was 1990. Its busiest year on record was 1961, with 162 births.
When was Cathi most popular? ▼
Cathi was most popular in the 1960s decade with 986 total births. The single peak year was 1961.
Where is Cathi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Cathi are California (328 births), Ohio (125 births), New York (112 births).
How long has the name Cathi been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Cathi since 1942 -- 49 years through the most recent 1990 data.
What names are similar to Cathi? ▼
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.
What to do with Cathi's data
- Cathi's decade-level peak was the 1960s (986 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Cathis (328 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Cathi
Nearby Names Like Cathi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cathi
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 Cathi side by side: Cathi vs Catherine Cathi vs Cathy Cathi vs Catalina
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1942–1990 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Cathi: Baby Name Since 1942 - 2,536 Births, Peak 1961." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/cathi. 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 Cathi 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 June 2026.