Cathy is a name of French origin and it means "pure" or "clear". It is derived from the French word 'cathédrale', which means 'cathedral'. The name has been used since medieval times, often given to girls born around Easter time because the French word for Easter is 'Pâques' which sounds similar to 'Cathy'.
The popularity of the name Cathy peaked in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. It was a popular choice among parents who wanted to give their daughters a strong, independent-sounding name. Today, Cathy is still used but it is less common than it once was.
In literature, one of the most famous bearers of the name Cathy is Catherine Earnshaw, the protagonist of Emily Brontë's novel "Wuthering Heights". This character has helped to perpetuate the image of Cathy as a strong-willed, passionate woman.
Overall, Cathy is a name with a rich history and a clear meaning. It has been used by many cultures throughout the centuries and continues to be chosen by parents who want to give their daughters a unique, memorable name.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Cathy in the United States from 1945 to 1974. Over this period, there was a total of 343 babies named Cathy.
The year with the highest number of Cathy births was 1956 and 1957, with both years seeing 23 births each. This suggests that these were particularly popular years for the name Cathy among parents in the United States.
Interestingly, there is a noticeable decrease in the popularity of the name Cathy towards the end of the period covered by the statistics. In fact, from 1965 onwards, the number of Cathy births does not exceed double digits again until 1970, when there were 11 babies named Cathy.
Overall, these statistics provide insight into the trend of the name Cathy in the United States over a span of three decades. They show that while it was once quite popular, its popularity waned towards the end of this period. However, it's important to note that even with the decrease in popularity, there were still babies named Cathy born each year during this time frame.