Katana
A katana is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the tachi, it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward.
Meaning & Origin of Katana
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A katana is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the tachi, it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Katana
Katana first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1958, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 79 Katanas were born — ranking #2,313 that year. As of 2026, Katana ranks #2,386 for baby girls with 76 births, rising sharply (+17% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Katanas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Katana
Phonetically similar names — useful when Katana is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Katana
What does the name Katana mean?
How popular is Katana in 2026?
When was Katana most popular?
In which U.S. states is Katana most popular?
Is Katana a unisex name?
What names go well with Katana?
About the name Katana
Katana is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1958 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Katana's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #2,313. Use the chart and map above to compare Katana's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.