Given name & surname · also Latin, Greek
Kay
“filled with happiness; rejoicing”
Kay is used as a given name and a surname. One Welsh interpretation is “filled with happiness; rejoicing.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “filled with happiness; rejoicing.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In English usage, Kay is a short form of Katherine.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Kay is a form 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.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Kay through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 102,545
- 3,924 boys · 98,621 girls
- Most popular year
- 1942
- 3,718 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #3,946 for girls · #7,951 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 17% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 37 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,946 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,622 in 1942. It also appeared in 10 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 77,013 as a first name in 2020; 22,730 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kay’s family of names
In English usage, Kay is a short form of Katherine. In German usage, Kay has a related form in Kai. Kay is a form of Katherine.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kaivariant · German
- Katherinefull form · English
- Kayavariant
- Kayannavariant
- Kayevariant · English
- Kayanavariant
- Kaevariant
- Kayannvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kay
- Xanana GusmãoPrime Minister and former President of East Timorborn 1946
- Kay IveyGovernor of Alabama since 2017born 1944
- Kay Bailey HutchisonAmerican politician (born 1943)
- Kay FrancisAmerican actress (1905–1968)
- Kay KendallEnglish actress (1927-1959)
- Kay Kay MenonIndian actorborn 1966
- Kay LenzAmerican actressborn 1953
- Kay SageAmerican Surrealist artist and poet (1898–1963)
- Kay JohnsonAmerican actress (1904–1975)
Characters named Kay: Kay Adams Corleone (The Godfather series), Kay Scarpetta (works by Patricia Cornwell), Crazy Jane (fictional character), Kay Faraday (Ace Attorney character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kay, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kathleen
“one who is pure; virginal”
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Lana
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Caesaria
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Caitríona
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Candace
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
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Regina
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Talaith
“one who wears a royal crown”
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Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls