girl's name
Katalina
kat-uh-LEE-nuh (English)
- Origin Greek, Spanish
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 4
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 9,557
the United States
#430
2025 births
Katalina is a girl's name meaning "pure," following Catherine. It's a K spelling of Catalina, the Spanish form, and it also matches the Basque and Hungarian habit of writing the name with a K. In the United States it's popular as a modern alternative.
- Katalina is a name of Greek, Spanish origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 720 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 4,605 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1971.
- 4 syllables, with the stress on syllable 3.
Katalina Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 85 |
| 1990s | 415 |
| 2000s | 1,031 |
| 2010s | 3,329 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,857 |
What Katalina Means
Katalina is usually read as pure, the traditional sense of Catherine. That meaning comes from a Greek word linked with the name by early Christians, and the name's true origin remains uncertain.
Where Katalina Comes From
Greek Aikaterine was linked with katharos, pure, which affected its spelling in Latin. Spanish shaped it as Catalina, and Hungarian and Basque as Katalin. American parents adopted the K spelling alongside Katelyn and Katherine. Santa Catalina Island off California keeps the Spanish form in American geography, which may add to its appeal. Nameberry and MomJunction treat it as a form of the same name. It's a good example of a European variation becoming a fresh American style.
Katalina in Use
Spanish Catalina has long been used in Latin America, and the K spelling shows that name moving into English-speaking families. Kat, Kate, Lina and Katie are all available as short forms.
How Popular Is Katalina?
In 2025, Katalina was given to 720 babies in the United States, ranking #430 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Katalina Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Katalina
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Katalina Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Katalina over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Katalina
- English kat-uh-LEE-nuh
2 nicknames for Katalina
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Katalina in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Katalina
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Katalina — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Katalina
What does the name Katalina mean?
Pure, the traditional meaning of Catherine.
Is Katalina the same as Catalina?
Yes. It's a K spelling of the same name.
What are nicknames for Katalina?
Kat, Kate, Lina and Katie.
How popular is the name Katalina?
In 2025, Katalina was given to 720 babies in the United States, ranking #430 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Katalina a girl's or a boy's name?
Katalina is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Katalina?
Katalina has 4 syllables.
When was Katalina most popular?
Katalina peaked in 2025, when 720 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Katalina a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Katalina currently ranks #430 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.