The Catskill Mountains get their name from the native Lenape people, who lived in the area before European colonization. They called the mountains "Kaaterskill" which is thought to mean "place of the wildcat."

However, the exact origin of the name is debated, with some theories suggesting it might also relate to the "Kaaterskill Falls" which are prominent features in the area.

Over time, the spelling evolved from "Kaaterskill" to "Catskill," and that's how the mountain range came to be known.