Katy
Katy is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Katy originated as an English diminutive of Katherine, which traces back to the ancient Greek name Aikaterine. While long used as a familiar nickname, it has also maintained a steady presence as an independent legal name in the United States. Its usage reached its height in the late 20th century and remains a classic, recognizable choice.
Popularity in the United States
20,952 babies in the United States have been named Katy since 1880. It ranks #1030 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1621.
States where it is most popular
- TX (21.1 %)
- CA (14.6 %)
- NY (5 %)
- OH (4.2 %)
- IL (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 54 |
| 1890-1900 | 123 |
| 1900-1910 | 184 |
| 1910-1920 | 356 |
| 1920-1930 | 538 |
| 1930-1940 | 543 |
| 1940-1950 | 706 |
| 1950-1960 | 935 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,445 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,473 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,926 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,486 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,212 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,491 |
| 2020-2029 | 480 |
Famous people named Katy
- Katy Jurado: Actress
- Katy Mixon: Actress
Fun facts
- Katy began as a pet form of Katherine but established itself as an independent registered birth name.
- The name was popularized in 19th-century children's literature through Susan Coolidge's novel 'What Katy Did'.