Kathy is the English diminutive of Katherine / Kathleen — from the Greek katharos (pure). **A top-50 US baby name from 1948 to 1969, peaking at #27 in 1954**. **Kathy Bates (born 1948)** — **American actress; Academy Award for Best Actress for *Misery* (1990) — only the second horror-film performance to win Best Actress (after Janet Gaynor 1929)**; two-time Oscar nominee additionally for *Primary Colors* (1998) and *About Schmidt* (2002); two-time Primetime Emmy winner; Tony nomination for *'night, Mother* (1983). **Kathie Lee Gifford (born 1953)** — Daytime Emmy host (*Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee* 1985-2000, *Today* fourth hour 2008-2019). **Kathy Griffin (born 1960)** — Emmy and two-time Grammy winner; *My Life on the D-List* (2005-2010). **Kathy Ireland (born 1963)** — model and businesswoman; Forbes Wealthiest Self-Made Woman in fashion (kathy ireland Worldwide brand). **Kathy Mattea** — two-time Grammy country singer.
Featured throughout 1950s-2020s American culture.
Kathy reduces to eight — the number of Misery.