Cato

At a Glance

Meaning

Wise, shrewd, clever (Latin 'catus')

Origin

Latin (Roman cognomen); also a Scandinavian matronymic form of Catherine

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

KAY-tohListen

Cato is a Latin name, originally a Roman cognomen, built on the word 'catus' — shrewd, clever, skilled. You may see it described as meaning 'wise, all-knowing,' but that overstates it: the Latin root lands closer to clever and skilled than to all-knowing. In Scandinavia, Cato also shows up as a matronymic form of Catherine.

Meaning & Origin of Cato

Meaning: Wise, shrewd, clever (Latin 'catus').

Origin: Latin (Roman cognomen); also a Scandinavian matronymic form of Catherine.

A common claim: Cato means 'wise, all-knowing' Actually: The Latin root 'catus' more precisely means 'shrewd, clever, skilled' rather than 'all-knowing', which overstates the sense.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Cato

Popularity of Cato

SSA records for Cato run from 1880 to 2024. Its highest point on record was 1891, when it ranked #716 with 8 babies given the name; in 2024 it ranked #3048, with 40 babies given the name.

Names Like Cato

These names have followed a similar path to Cato in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Beauregard
• Hilda
• Esau
• Mallie
• Vianna
• Una

FAQ

What does the name Cato mean?

Wise, shrewd, clever (Latin ‘catus’). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Cato?

Cato is pronounced KAY-toh (IPA: /ˈkeɪtoʊ/).

Is Cato a popular name right now?

Cato peaked at #716 in 1891 and is ranked #3048 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Cato Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Cato, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.