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.
- #4,010 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 2,536
- born since 1942
- 1960s
- peak 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.
- #4,010 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 2,536 born since 1942
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cathi ranks #4,010 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,536 born since 1942, peaking in the 1960s.
- #4,010 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 2,536
- born since 1942
- 1960s
- peak decade
Cathi's 2,536 recorded births place it above 94.45% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
22 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by California.
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 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
1960s is the heaviest window (986 births, 39% of the file).
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 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% |
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? ▼
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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
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
Compare Cathi side by side: Cathi vs Catherine Cathi vs Cathy Cathi vs Catalina
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Cathi: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1961)
Similar record span (~48 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.