Katja

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAHT-yah /ˈkɑːt.jə/Medium

Meaning: A Slavic and German pet form of Katherine/Yekaterina, from the Greek Aikaterine, traditionally 'pure.' The j sounds like a y. A crisp, worldly classic.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp European classic: Katja is a Slavic/German form of Katherine — 'pure' (said 'KAHT-yah'). Worldly and elegant.

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Origin MediumSlavic, Greek, German

MeaningA Slavic and German pet form of Katherine/Yekaterina, from the Greek Aikaterine, traditionally 'pure.' The j sounds like a y. A crisp, worldly classic.

U.S. rank (2025)#16086 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1998

Total births (all-time)≈ 949

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

Katja is a Slavic/German diminutive of Katherine (Yekaterina), from the Greek Aikaterine, 'pure.' The j-as-y spelling is European; it reads elegant and worldly — rare in the U.S. (said 'KAHT-yah').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., common across Europe. Rare, crisp, and classic.

Did you know? Katja is a Slavic and German pet form of Katherine, from the Greek for 'pure' — where the j sounds like a y, giving 'KAHT-yah.' A crisp, worldly classic.

Overall data confidence 52%

References — Katja — Slavic/German form of Katherine; 'pure'

Variations

KatyaKatiaKatarina

Nicknames

KatKatie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Katja…

Katya— a phonetic twin

Katarina— the fuller form

Kajsa— a like Katherine short form

Sonja— a like j-spelled European name

Explore names like Katja

By themeclassic short german slavic

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Katja mean?

Katja is a Slavic/German form of Katherine, from the Greek for 'pure.'

How do you pronounce Katja?

It's said KAHT-yah /ˈkɑːt.jə/ — two syllables, stress on the first; the j sounds like a y.

Is Katja a boy or girl name?

Katja is a girl's name.

How popular is Katja?

Katja is a rare name in the U.S. and common across Europe.