Kati
Kati was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked 673rd; the most babies were born in 1986 (261). More babies were named Kati in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Katie) pet form of Katherine (origin uncertain) · Greek, English
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1986261 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,772babies recorded
What does the name Kati mean?
Kati is a spelling of Katie, pronounced the same way, so it shares Katie's meaning and origin.
Katie is a pet form of Katherine and its other spellings. DMNES traces Katherine to Greek Aikaterine, whose origin is uncertain; it was later linked with Greek katharos, pure, which DMNES says is unrelated and which explains the th spelling. Wiktionary also mentions the goddess Hecate or a word meaning "each of the two" as possible sources. The 4th-century martyr Catherine of Alexandria, DMNES notes, became an extremely popular saint in the Middle Ages.
Αἰκατερίνη (Ancient Greek, “Katherine (origin uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES calls Katherine of uncertain origin; Wiktionary lists several proposals (Hecate, 'each of the two').
Other explanations you may read: Means 'pure' (Greek katharos). DMNES says the names are unrelated; the association came later and shaped the spelling..
Related names: Katherine, Catherine, Kate, Katy, Kathryn, Caitlin.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Katie' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Katherine', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Catherine' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Kati popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #16,304 | 5 |
| 2010 | #6,506 | 20 |
| 2000 | #2,581 | 58 |
| 1990 | #878 | 221 |
| 1980 | #997 | 147 |
| 1970 | #5,216 | 10 |
| 1960 | #3,581 | 13 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kati, counting every spelling?
Kati is a spelling of Katie, a name family that ranked #559 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 537 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie | 447 | #646 | 2,687 |
| Katy | 64 | #2,709 | 398 |
| Katty | 5 | #16,087 | 67 |
| Catie | 6 | #13,537 | 37 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Kati?
About 4,600 people born in the US named Kati are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 33 and 43. That makes Kati mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kati by state
How common Kati was among girls born in each state in 1984–1988, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (2.6×), Iowa (2.6×), Indiana (2.0×), Wisconsin (2.0×), Missouri (1.8×). In 21 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kati: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kati, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kati
What does Kati mean?
Kati is a spelling of Katie, usually explained as “pet form of Katherine (origin uncertain)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Kati?
Kati was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked 673rd; the most babies were born in 1986 (261). More babies were named Kati in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Kati a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Kati in the US.
Where was Kati most popular?
In 1984–1988, Kati was most common in Minnesota (0.37 per 1,000 girls), followed by Iowa and Maine.