Catalyna
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "pure", "clear" or "innocent".
Name Census estimates that about 246 living Americans carry the first name Catalyna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Catalyna today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Catalyna births was 2018 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Catalyna. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
246
~ 1 in 1,393,310 Americans
Peak year
2018
25 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,816
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Catalyna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Catalyna from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 136 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Catalyna remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Catalyna by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Catalyna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Catalynas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Catalyna, while Florida, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Catalyna
The name Catalyna has its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture, dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "katharos," which means "pure" or "clear." The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in texts from the classical period of ancient Greece.
In ancient Greek mythology, Catalyna was the name of a minor goddess associated with purity and cleanliness. Her name was invoked during rituals and ceremonies to symbolize the importance of purification and spiritual renewal. The name also appeared in several plays and literary works from the era, further solidifying its cultural significance.
During the Byzantine period, the name Catalyna gained popularity among the Greek-speaking population of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was often bestowed upon individuals who were considered virtuous or possessed a strong moral character. Several notable individuals from this time period bore the name, including Catalyna of Antioch (c. 280 CE), a respected Christian martyr and saint.
As the Eastern Orthodox Church expanded its influence, the name Catalyna spread to other regions of Europe and the Middle East. In the 11th century, a notable figure named Catalyna of Siena (1347-1380) emerged as a influential Dominican tertiary and mystic in Italy. Her profound spiritual writings and teachings earned her recognition as a Doctor of the Church.
During the Renaissance period, the name Catalyna gained popularity among the aristocracy and upper classes of Europe. Catalyna de' Medici (1519-1589), a member of the powerful Medici family in Florence, was a notable figure who bore the name. She served as the Queen of France and played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of her time.
Another prominent individual with the name Catalyna was Catalyna of Aragon (1485-1536), a Spanish princess and Queen of England. She was the first wife of King Henry VIII and played a crucial role in the affairs of the English monarchy during the Tudor period.
Throughout history, the name Catalyna has been associated with purity, virtue, and nobility. Its Greek roots and cultural significance have endured, making it a timeless and enduring name across various societies and eras.
People
Catalyna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Catalyna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Catalyna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Catalyna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 246 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Catalyna going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,393,310 US residents.
Is Catalyna a common name?
We classify Catalyna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 248 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Catalyna most popular?
The single biggest year for Catalyna was 2018, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Catalyna is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Catalyna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Catalyna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Catalyna in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Catalyna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Catalyna in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Catalyna can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Catalyna?
You can see how many people share the name Catalyna on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.