Given name & surname
Kitty
“one who is pure; virginal”
In English use, Kitty is an affectionate form of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Kitty is an affectionate form of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Kitty is used as an affectionate form of Katherine.
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, Kitty is an affectionate 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
Kitty through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 11,657
- 0 boys · 11,657 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 358 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −71%
- Cooling
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 358 in 1947. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,484 as a first name in 2020; a sample rank of No. 82,897 among surnames in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kitty’s family of names
In English usage, Kitty is a diminutive of Katherine. Kitty has a related form in Kittie. Kitty is an affectionate form of Katherine.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Katherinefull form · English
- Kittyelikely variant
- Kittievariant
- Kittivariant
- Kiteavariant
- Kitteavariant
- Kitteevariant
- Kiteevariant
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See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kitty
- Kitty CarlisleAmerican stage and screen actress, singer, and spokesperson for the arts (1910–2007)
- Kitty WellsAmerican country music singer (1919–2012)
- Kitty KiellandNorwegian painter (1843–1914)
- Kitty WinnAmerican actress (born 1943)
- Kitty OppenheimerGerman-American biologist and botanist (1910–1972)
- Kitty Marionactress and political activist, Militant Suffragette (1871-1944)
- Kitty KallenAmerican singer (1921-2016)
- Kitty van MaleOlympic field hockey playerborn 1988
- Kitty JoynerAmerican electrical engineer1916–1993
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kitty, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Kington
“king”
—
Kingswood
“king”
—
Ketty
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>99% girls