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Cate

Girl name · 22 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cate: 22 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 2003.

Cate is most often a diminutive of Catherine, ultimately from the Greek *Aikaterinē* via the Latin *Catharina*; its meaning is uncertain—it may be linked to *katharos*, meaning "pure," though the early Christian association with Saint Catherine of Alexandria gave it this virtuous air. The actress Cate Blanchett, an Australian-born icon of stage and screen, has brought the spelling modern, crisp appeal, while Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, a historical landmark, bears the saint’s name. Several Kates, including Catherine Middleton, share the root, but Cate offers a streamlined, less formal variant. In Scotland, it carries a brisk, contemporary feel, sitting alongside traditional forms like Catriona.