Home › Baby Names Directory › Catalea
Catalea
Pronounced kah-tah-LAY-ah /ˌkɑ.tɑˈleɪ.ɑ/Medium
Meaning: A modern name from the cattleya orchid (named for the botanist William Cattley); also echoes Catalina ('pure'); routes layeredLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Catalea is a modern name from the cattleya orchid — a vivid, beloved flower (the national flower of Colombia), named for the British botanist William Cattley — and it also echoes Catalina, 'pure' (routes layered, which we note). A lyrical, floral, modern name (said 'kah-tah-LAY-ah'; nickname Cata).
In the U.S. it appears in Latino families. Rare, the-cattleya-orchid at the root, and floral.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Catalea…
Explore names like Catalea
Frequently Asked
What does the name Catalea mean?
Catalea echoes the cattleya orchid and Catalina ('pure'); the routes are layered.
How do you pronounce Catalea?
It's said kah-tah-LAY-ah /ˌkɑ.tɑˈleɪ.ɑ/ — four syllables, stress on the third.
Is Catalea a boy or girl name?
Catalea is a girl's name.
How popular is Catalea?
Catalea is a rare, recent name in the U.S.