Kitty Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Kitty is an English name derived from the Greek Aikaterine, meaning 'pure' or 'clear'. It evolved through various forms including Catherine and Katherine before becoming popular as a diminutive. The name is often associated with warmth and affection, and while it does not have biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 19th century. Notable figures with this name include Kitty Carlisle and Kitty Genovese.
The name Kitty is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kitty has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Kitty' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 699th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 586th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 582nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1460th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4028th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7445th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11564th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kitty' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kitty"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɪti/
Origin
English
Etymology
Kitty is a diminutive form of the name Katherine, which is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine. The name has been associated with the meaning 'pure' or 'clear'.
Meaning
pure, clear
Language Evolution
Aikaterine (Greek), Caterina (Italian), Catherine (French), Katherine (English), Kitty (English diminutive)
Historical Usage
The name Kitty gained popularity in the 19th century as a common diminutive for Katherine, and it has remained in use as a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
Kit, Katherine, Catherine, Kitty-Kat
Modern Popularity & Image
Kitty is often perceived as a cute and friendly name, commonly associated with affection and warmth.
Famous People
Kitty Hawk (town in North Carolina, known for the Wright brothers' first flight), Kitty Carlisle (American actress and singer), Kitty Genovese (American murder victim whose case highlighted the 'bystander effect')
Explore More Kitty Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kitty"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kitty"
"Kitty" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 699th of 9107 | 1,931 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 586th of 9204 | 2,502 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 582nd of 12526 | 4,815 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1460th of 19264 | 1,136 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4028th of 27321 | 377 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7445th of 35406 | 242 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11564th of 30306 | 93 |
Regional Popularity of "Kitty" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Kitty" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
63.35% 897th/1416 |
36.69% 506th/1379 |
25.91% 613th/2366 |
79.42% 907th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
43.66% 675th/1546 |
41.90% 652nd/1556 |
20.61% 485th/2353 |
43.24% 669th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.52% 546th/2227 |
32.96% 801st/2430 |
18.09% 516th/2853 |
22.45% 623rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
51.86% 1523rd/2937 |
51.56% 1796th/3483 |
46.05% 1620th/3518 |
46.91% 1897th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
62.55% 2799th/4475 |
100.00% 5194th/5194 |
49.75% 3143rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
67.82% 3502nd/5164 |
- |
72.04% 5376th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
75.94% 4766th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kitty"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kitty" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.