Given name & surname
Katy
“one who is pure; virginal”
In English use, Katy is a diminutive of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Katy is a diminutive of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Katy has an alternative spelling in Katie. Katie belongs to the English Kate name family.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Katy is used as a spelling variant of Katie. In English use, Katy has an alternative spelling in Katie. The shared background comes through Katie: Katie combines Kate with the affectionate ending -ie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Katy is a diminutive of Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent. In English use, Katy has an alternative spelling in Katie. The history of Katie gives this family its wider story. Katie developed through everyday affectionate naming. A precise date for its earliest use is not established.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Katy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,957
- 5 boys · 20,952 girls
- Most popular year
- 1987
- 674 babies
- 2025
- 64
- #2,709 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 64 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,709 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 674 in 1987. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (11). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 23,113 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Katy’s family of names
In English usage, Katy is a diminutive of Katherine. Katy has an alternative spelling in Katie. Katy is an affectionate form of Katherine.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 48
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Catalinaequivalent
- Kateequivalent
- Karenequivalent
- Katerinaequivalent
- Katarinaequivalent
- Catarinaequivalent
- Katiaequivalent
- Katrinaequivalent
Show 40 moreShow fewer
- Kathyequivalent
- Katyaequivalent
- Caterinaequivalent
- Ekaterinaequivalent
- Katharinaequivalent
- Kaisaequivalent
- Kathrineequivalent
- Cathyequivalent
- Catharinaequivalent
- Cathrynequivalent
- Carinequivalent
- Karinequivalent
- Kajsaequivalent
- Katjaequivalent
- Katriequivalent
- Katrinequivalent
- Kateyequivalent
- Kaarinaequivalent
- Katalinequivalent
- Katrineequivalent
- Kathieequivalent
- Kareenequivalent
- Cathrineequivalent
- Katarzynaequivalent
- Katiequivalent
- Catrinequivalent
- Cathieequivalent
- Kateeequivalent
- Catharineequivalent
- Kakeenequivalent
- Katrijnequivalent
- Katarínaequivalent
- Екатеринаequivalent
- Ekaterineequivalent
- Katriinaequivalent
- Chatrineequivalent
- Katriinequivalent
- Jekaterinaequivalent
- Katariinaequivalent
- Kateřinaequivalent
People named Katy
- Katy MarchantBritish cyclistborn 1993
- Katy MixonAmerican actress and modelborn 1981
- Katy O'BrianAmerican actress, writer and martial artistborn 1989
- Katy BødtgerDanish singer1932–2017
- Keti TopuriaGeorgian singerborn 1986
- Katy Gallagher6th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (born 1970)
- Katy KurtzmanAmerican actressborn 1965
- Katy StedingAmerican basketball player and coachborn 1967
- Katy SextonBritish swimmerborn 1982
Characters named Katy: Katy Keene (comic book character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Katy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Katheryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Candace
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Kari
“of the wind” · “one with curly hair”
20% boys · 80% girls
Kandis
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Kathryne
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kandice
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Kendra
“having royal power; from the high hill” · “a royal ruler”
>99% girls