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Cataleya

♀ Girl

Pronounced kat-uh-LAY-uh /ˌkætəˈleɪə/High

Meaning: A tropical orchid; associated with beauty, love, and strengthHigh

In 30 seconds: A vivid, floral name from the Cattleya orchid genus — arguably the most glamorous of all flowers. Cataleya is exotic and melodic, with particular popularity in Latin American communities and among parents who love bold flower names.
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Origin HighSpanish, Latin American
MeaningA tropical orchid; associated with beauty, love, and strength
U.S. rank (2025)#238 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,314 girls (0.07% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 11,946

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520112025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Cataleya is a Spanish-phonetic variant of Cattleya, the orchid genus named in 1824 by British botanist John Lindley in honour of horticulturist William Cattley (1788–1835), who successfully cultivated the plants in England. The Cattleya orchid became the archetypal 'corsage orchid' and a symbol of luxury and exotic beauty in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The name gained international traction after the 2011 action film Colombiana, in which the protagonist is named Cataleya — a choice her father explains by reference to a Colombian flower. The film introduced the name to a wide audience and sparked its entry into U.S. and Latin American birth records.

Did you know? The Cattleya orchid — the most celebrated genus in orchid cultivation — was named after British horticulturist William Cattley, and the name Cataleya is a Spanish phonetic rendering of this scientific genus name.
Overall data confidence 87%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CattleyaKatalejaCataleia

Nicknames

CatCataLeya

Famous Bearers

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If you like Cataleya…

Dahlia— bold floral name with the same exotic, dramatic flair
Camellia— refined botanical name with the same four-syllable elegance
Azalea— vivid floral name popular in Latin American communities with the same vibrancy
Liliana— four-syllable Latin-American flower name with a similarly melodic rhythm

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cataleya mean?

Cataleya is a Spanish variant of Cattleya, the tropical orchid genus, symbolising beauty, love, and exotic elegance.

How do you pronounce Cataleya?

It is said kat-uh-LAY-uh /ˌkætəˈleɪə/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Cataleya a boy or girl name?

Cataleya is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Cataleya?

Cataleya rose quickly in the U.S. after the 2011 film Colombiana and has remained in the top 500 for girls.