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Cady

Girl name · 13 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cady: 13 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2005.

Cady is most familiar as a modern diminutive of Cadence, from the Latin *cadentia* meaning "a falling," often used musically, though it also stands as a feminine variant of Katie or as an Irish surname from *Ó Cáidhe*, meaning "descendant of Cáidhe" (a given name of uncertain origin). The name gained widespread recognition through Cady Heron, the clever protagonist of the film *Mean Girls*, played by Lindsay Lohan, while the actress Cady McClain is known for her soap opera roles. In the United States, the name appears in place names such as Cady, Minnesota, and Cadyville, New York, though these likely derive from a family surname rather than a direct bearer. An alternate spelling, Kady, has also seen occasional use in Scotland, keeping the name fresh and distinctly modern.