Skip Ancestry main menuMain MenuAncestry
HomeTreesSearchDNAHelpExtras
Sign In
Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
  • Support Centre
  • About Us
  • Site Map
  • Gift Memberships
    • Ancestry Corporate
    • Fold3.com
    • ForcesWarRecords.com
    • Geneanet.org
    • Newspapers.com
    • ProGenealogists.com
    • RootsWeb.com
  • © 2006-2026 Ancestry
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
Group of people

Meaning of the first name Cat

Origin

English

Meaning

Diminutive form of Catherine

Variations

Cate, Cato, Cathy
The name Cat finds its origins in the English language and serves as a diminutive form of Catherine. Catherine is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning pure or clear. Over time, this name evolved into various forms across different languages and cultures, including the shortened version, Cat.

In recorded history, the name Cat traces its roots back to medieval England, where it was commonly used as a nickname for women named Catherine. During this period, nicknames often served as informal alternatives to given names and were frequently employed within close-knit communities. As time went on, Cat maintained its popularity, accompanying the enduring name Catherine through the centuries. In modern-day usage, Cat appears as a standalone name as well as a nickname, with individuals deliberately choosing it or with families continuing to pass it down through generations.

Today, this name continues to hold a sense of familiarity and affection. Although its usage is not as prevalent as some other names, it remains present in various forms in society. Whether it is individuals named Catherine using Cat as a nickname among their peers or parents specifically opting for Cat as a given name for their child, it finds its place in contemporary usage with a nod to its historical roots.

Based on our records...

Murphy

This is the most common surname associated with Cat.

John

This is the most common name of those married to a Cat.

Mary

This is the most common name for a child of a Cat.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

What are you curious about?

Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
Start a free trial
Order AncestryDNA
Based on our records...

Did you know?

1824 is when there were the most people born with the first name Cat.

Explore the origins of another name.