Katniss
Sagittaria is a genus of about 30 species of aquatic plants whose members are referred to by the Native American word wapato and a variety of other common names, including arrowhead, duck potato, swamp potato, tule potato, and katniss. Most are native to South, Central, and North America, but there are also some from Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- Literature
Meaning & Origin of Katniss
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Sagittaria is a genus of about 30 species of aquatic plants whose members are referred to by the Native American word wapato and a variety of other common names, including arrowhead, duck potato, swamp potato, tule potato, and katniss. Most are native to South, Central, and North America, but there are also some from Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Literature
Etymology
The Story of Katniss
Katniss first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2012, with 12 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2014: 38 births, good for #3,924 nationwide. About 69% of every Katniss on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Katniss ranks #9,602 for baby girls with 7 births, gradually falling (-13%). All told, over 215 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2010s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Katniss
Phonetically similar names — useful when Katniss is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Catus
- Cadmus
- Catas
- Cattiness
- Canis
- Kanis
- Curtness
- Catnips
- Coitus
- Cuteness
- Coyness
- Kanas
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Katniss
What does the name Katniss mean?
What is the origin of the name Katniss?
How popular is Katniss in 2026?
When was Katniss most popular?
In which U.S. states is Katniss most popular?
Is Katniss a unisex name?
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About the name Katniss
Katniss is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2012 and has accumulated 215 births in the dataset. Katniss's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #3,924. Use the chart and map above to compare Katniss's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- 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.