Kay
The name Kay is both a surname and a given name. In English-speaking countries, it is usually a feminine name, often a short form of Katherine or one of its variants; but it is also used as a first name in its own right, and also as a masculine name.
- English
- Welsh Mythology
- Arthurian Cycle
- Frisian
Meaning & Origin of Kay
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The name Kay is both a surname and a given name. In English-speaking countries, it is usually a feminine name, often a short form of Katherine or one of its variants; but it is also used as a first name in its own right, and also as a masculine name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- Welsh Mythology
- Arthurian Cycle
- Frisian
- German
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- Dutch
The Story of Kay
American parents first put Kay on the record books as a baby girl name in 1885, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1942, when 3,623 Kays were born — ranking #75 that year. About 33% of every Kay on record arrived during the 1940s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Kay ranks #3,641 for baby girls with 42 births, gradually falling (-10%). All told, over 99K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Kay
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Kay. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Caetlin
- Caitlin
- Caitlyn
- Catharine
- Catherin
- Catherina
- Catherine
- Cathleen
- Cathryn
- Catrina
- Kae
- Kaety
- Kaitlin
- Kaitlyn
- Kaitlynn
- Kat
- Kate
- Katee
- Katelin
- Katelyn
- Katelynn
- Katey
- Katharine
- Katharyn
- Katherina
- Katherine
- Katheryn
- Katheryne
- Kathi
- Kathie
- Kathleen
- Kathlyn
- Kathryn
- Kathy
- Katie
- Katlyn
- Katrina
- Katy
- Kaye
- Kit
- Kittie
- Kitty
- Cai
- Cai
- Caj
- Cornelis
- Cornelius
- Gerard
- Gerhard
- Gerhardt
- Gerhart
- Gerrit
- Jurryt
- Kai
- Kerneels
- Nicklas
- Nickolaus
- Niclas
- Nicolaas
- Nicolai
- Nicolaus
- Niklas
- Niklaus
- Nikolaas
- Nikolaj
- Nikolaus
Names that sound like Kay
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kay 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 Kay
What does the name Kay mean?
What is the origin of the name Kay?
How popular is Kay in 2026?
When was Kay most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kay most popular?
Is Kay a unisex name?
What names go well with Kay?
What are nicknames or variants of Kay?
About the name Kay
Kay is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1885 and has accumulated 99K births in the dataset. Kay's peak popularity came in 1942 when it ranked #70. Use the chart and map above to compare Kay's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1942 →
- Names of the 1940s →
- 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.