Kati

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAT-ee /ˈkæt.i/High

Meaning: A short form of Katherine, standard in Hungarian (from Katalin) and Finnish (from Katariina) as well as English. Katherine is traditionally glossed 'pure,' by association with the Greek katharos, though the true origin is debated.Medium

In 30 seconds: Katie, trimmed: Kati is a short form of Katherine, glossed 'pure' (said 'KAT-ee'). Simple and international.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Finnish, Hungarian

MeaningA short form of Katherine, standard in Hungarian (from Katalin) and Finnish (from Katariina) as well as English. Katherine is traditionally glossed 'pure,' by association with the Greek katharos, though the true origin is debated.

U.S. rank (2024)#14298 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1986

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,771

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

Kati is a compact short form of Katherine, standard in Hungarian (Katalin) and Finnish (Katariina) as well as in English. Katherine has been read as 'pure' since the Middle Ages, by association with the Greek katharos, though scholars debate the true origin. Kati is friendly, brief and widely understood (said 'KAT-ee').

It appears rarely in the U.S., while Katie is far more familiar. Rare here, classic-rooted, and easy.

Did you know? Kati is the everyday short form of Katalin in Hungary and of Katariina in Finland — the same warm nickname doing service across half of Europe.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Kati — Short form of Katherine/Katalin/Katariina

Variations

KatieKatyKate

Nicknames

KatKateTiti

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kati…

Katie— the standard English spelling

Katy— a like short Katherine form

Kate— the crisp classic behind both

Kristi— a fellow English choice

Christi— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Kati

By themeclassic short european katherine-family

By meaningPurity Truth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kati mean?

Kati is a short form of Katherine, traditionally glossed 'pure' from the Greek katharos.

How do you pronounce Kati?

It's said KAT-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kati a boy or girl name?

Kati is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kati?

Kati is rare in the U.S., though it is familiar in Hungary and Finland.