Kay

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAY /ˈkeɪ/High

Meaning: Short form of Katherine ('pure') and K-names generally — a mid-century stand-alone classicMedium

In 30 seconds: One letter, fully dressed: Kay is Katherine's 'pure' distilled to a single sound — the mid-century name of grandmothers and Godfather wives. Crisp, kind, and complete.

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Origin MediumGreek, English

MeaningShort form of Katherine ('pure') and K-names generally — a mid-century stand-alone classic

U.S. rank (2025)#3946 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births37 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1942

Total births (all-time)≈ 98,620

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

Kay is a short form of Katherine — Greek katharos, 'pure' — long standing alone (actress Kay Francis led 1930s Hollywood). Arthurian Sir Kay and the Greek 'rejoice' reading add older layers.

It registers thinly today, pure vintage. Rare, pure at the root, and complete in one beat.

Did you know? Kay Corleone anchored The Godfather, and Danny Kaye spelled it sideways — while Arthurian legend gives Sir Kay, the king's seneschal, the name's oldest echo.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Kay — short-form background

Variations

KayeKaiKaylene

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Kay Francis (1905–1968)
American film actress, a top Warner Bros. star of the 1930s.

If you like Kay…

Faye— a fellow one-syllable vintage gem

May— the companion single-beat classic

Fay— a similarly popular pick

Kit— a similarly popular pick

Joyce— shares Kay's English roots

Explore names like Kay

By themegreek vintage short-and-sweet

By meaningPurity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kay mean?

Kay is a short form of Katherine, Greek for 'pure'.

How do you pronounce Kay?

It's said KAY /ˈkeɪ/ — a single syllable.

Is Kay a boy or girl name?

Kay is mainly a girl's name in modern use.

How popular is Kay?

Kay is a rare standalone name in the U.S. today.