Cato
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Cato
Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
Cato for boys#2804 US
The Roman statesman known as Cato the Elder was born Marcus Portius, the Cato added in tribute to his natural sagacity, practical wisdom and political expertise.
Cato appears in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and, to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, in the Pink Panther movies--and Kato was The Green Hornet's valet. Cato is also a 21st century Hunger Games name, which could do more to spur its popularity than all its past history.
Cato for girls
Cato may have risen to new prominence in the English speaking world as an ancient Roman boys' name, popularized by The Hunger Games. But in the Netherlands, it's most widely used as a short form for Catharina and other forms of Katherine, ranking close to the Top 100, higher than any formal variation of the name. Cato for a girl is a cute idea and a fresh way to shorten the ubiquitous Catherine.
Pronounced CAY-toh.
As of October 2026, Cato ranked #2804 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #716 in 1891, Nameberry popularity #720.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,908 | 19 | 9.9 |
| 2015 | #4,314 | 23 | 12 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | #4,619 | 21 | 11.3 |
| 2018 | #3,461 | 32 | 17.6 |
| 2019 | #3,909 | 27 | 15 |
| 2020 | #3,280 | 34 | 19.7 |
| 2021 | #3,187 | 37 | 21.1 |
| 2022 | #3,162 | 38 | 21.8 |
| 2023 | #4,476 | 23 | 13.4 |
| 2024 | #3,048 | 40 | 23.2 |
| 2025 | #2,804 | 45 | 26.3 |
World rankings
Cato for boys
Cato for girls
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Cato on lists
Famous Catos
- Cato the ElderBoy
Roman statesman
- Cato the YoungerBoy
Roman statesman, great,grandson of Cato the Elder
- Cato JuneBoy
American football player
- CatoBoy
patriot spy and courier during the American Revolution
- Suzy CatoGirl
New Zealand children's entertainer and TV presenter.
Cato in pop culture
- CatoBoy
the male tribute from District 2 in the first installment of "The Hunger Games" series portrayed by Alexander Ludwig
- Cato FongBoy
Inspector Clouseau's manservant in the Pink Panther movies
- CATOBoy
NASA mission control position (Communications And Tracking Officer)
- CatoBoy
minor character in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar"
- Cato's LettersBoy
series of essays by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon
- Cato NeimoidiaBoy
planet in the Star Wars series
- Dr CatoBoy
character in the Planet of the Apes movies
- Quintus Licinius CatoBoy
protagonist in Simon Scarrow's "Eagles of the Empire" book series