girl's name
Katia
KAH-tee-uh (English)
- Origin Greek, Russian
- Gender Girl
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 38,749
Katia is a girl's name of Greek and Russian origin. It's a pet form of Yekaterina, the Russian Catherine, and it's usually taken to mean "pure," though the true source of Catherine is unknown. The spelling is especially familiar in France and in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Katia is a name of Greek, Russian origin.
- Peaked in France in 1971, when 2,230 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 39,300 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1939.
Katia Over Time
Births per decade in France, 1930s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 435 |
| 1950s | 980 |
| 1960s | 5,370 |
| 1970s | 15,485 |
| 1980s | 5,070 |
| 1990s | 2,295 |
| 2000s | 1,055 |
| 2010s | 340 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 110 |
What Katia Means
Katia is usually read as pure, following Catherine. That sense comes from a Greek word, katharos, that early Christians associated with the name, so the meaning is traditional and may not reflect its first origin.
Where Katia Comes From
Katia is the French and western spelling of Russian Katya, the everyday form of Yekaterina. The root name is the Greek Aikaterine, whose origin is uncertain. It may be linked to Hekate, or to a Coptic word, and the sense of pure comes from an early association with Greek katharos, which also changed the spelling in Latin. Saint Catherine of Alexandria spread the name across Christian Europe, and Catherine the Great gave it particular shine in Russia. The Russian pet form moved westward in the twentieth century and settled in France as an independent name. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese speakers also use it.
Katia in Use
Notable bearers include volcanologist Katia Krafft and Katia Mann, wife of novelist Thomas Mann. The film Fire of Love brought Krafft's story to new audiences.
How Popular Is Katia?
In 2025, Katia was given to 15 babies in France. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Katia Is Used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Katia
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Katia Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Katia over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Katia
- English KAH-tee-uh
- French kah-TYAH
Katia 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 Katia
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Katia — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Katia
What does the name Katia mean?
It's usually taken to mean pure, following Catherine.
Is Katia a Russian name?
It's the western spelling of Katya, a Russian pet form of Yekaterina.
How do you pronounce Katia?
KAH-tee-uh or KAHT-yuh.
How popular is the name Katia?
In 2025, Katia was given to 15 babies in France. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Katia a girl's or a boy's name?
Katia is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
When was Katia most popular?
Katia peaked in 1971, when 2,230 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Katia a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Katia currently ranks #2,039 in France. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.