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Katena

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Katena

Pronounced kuh-TEE-nuh /kəˈtiːnə/Medium

Meaning: Katena is a rare name best read as a reshaping of Katrina or Katina, short forms of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, long linked by folk etymology to 'pure'. It may also echo Latin catena, 'chain', but the Katherine reading fits the sound and era; the meaning it most plausibly inherits is 'pure'.Low

In 30 seconds: Katena is a rare name likely reshaping Katrina/Katina, from Katherine, 'pure'. Very rare, a handful of girls a year in a short window near 1972 (said kuh-TEE-nuh).

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Origin LowGreek, American

MeaningKatena is a rare name best read as a reshaping of Katrina or Katina, short forms of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, long linked by folk etymology to 'pure'. It may also echo Latin catena, 'chain', but the Katherine reading fits the sound and era; the meaning it most plausibly inherits is 'pure'.

U.S. rank (1978)#10475 ↘ Falling

1978 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1972

Total births (all-time)≈ 66

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

Katena is an uncommon name most plausibly read as a reshaping of Katrina or Katina, contracted forms of Katherine. Katherine descends from Greek Aikaterine and has long been tied to katharos, 'pure'. A faint echo of Latin catena, 'chain', is possible but secondary.

It was always scarce: only a handful of girls a year, its recorded run falling in a short stretch of the early-to-mid nineteen-seventies. A girl named Katena then is around fifty now. It reads as a rare period variant rather than a name with a revival.

Did you know? Katena's whole recorded run is short, and its sound points back to Katherine, the ancient name folk-linked to the Greek word for 'pure'.

Overall data confidence 45%

References - Katena / Katina / Katherine — Katherine 'pure'; possible catena 'chain' secondary

Variations

KatinaKatrinaKetenaKatenya

Nicknames

KatTenaKate

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Katena…

Katina— the closest parent short form

Katrina— the fuller Katherine contraction

Katia— another Kat- short form of the same family

Kalena— shares the soft -ena ending and sound

Explore names like Katena

By themerare greek variant

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Katena mean?

It most likely reshapes Katrina or Katina, short forms of Katherine, traditionally understood as 'pure'.

How do you pronounce Katena?

It's said kuh-TEE-nuh /kəˈtiːnə/, three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Katena a boy or girl name?

Katena is used as a girl's name.

Is Katena a popular name?

No, it was always very rare, borne by only a handful of girls a year in a short early-seventies window.