Hannah Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#56
Cataleya
GirlAmerican (modern coinage)· “from the cattleya orchid”
- Meaning
- from the cattleya orchid
- Origin
- American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- kat-uh-LAY-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #238
- US babies 2025
- 1,314
- Best rank
- #236 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Cataleya
Cataleya is an American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “from the cattleya orchid”.
Cataleya is a modern name inspired by the cattleya, a genus of showy tropical orchids named after William Cattley, an English horticulturist. The name became widely known through the action film Colombiana, whose heroine is called Cataleya after the flower, and it spread quickly among American parents afterward. Because it is recent, there is no long history of use, but its floral root gives it a clear meaning. It has a rhythmic, four-syllable sound. Cat, Cata and Leya are possible nicknames, and Kataleya is an alternative spelling.
Popularity over time
Cataleya first appears in US Social Security records in 2011. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 14 different years, starting in 2012. Its best national rank was #236 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,315 babies. In 2025, 1,314 babies were named Cataleya, and it ranked #238 nationally. That is 82% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Of the 11,955 US girls named Cataleya since records began, 55% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 5,435 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Maisie, Lilith, Antonella, Nyla, and Collins.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cataleya ranked highest in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #65 | 18 |
| Texas | #83 | 311 |
| Arizona | #97 | 62 |
| California | #105 | 280 |
| Nevada | #134 | 18 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Cataleya is usually pronounced kat-uh-LAY-uh, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with C and ends in “-ya”.
Middle names for Cataleya
A few middle names that flow with Cataleya: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cataleya
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Lists that include Cataleya
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cataleya mean?
Cataleya is an American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “from the cattleya orchid”.
What is the origin of the name Cataleya?
Cataleya has modern American roots. Cataleya is a modern name inspired by the cattleya, a genus of showy tropical orchids named after William Cattley, an English horticulturist.
Is Cataleya a popular name?
Yes. Cataleya ranked #238 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Cataleya a boy or girl name?
Cataleya is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Cataleya?
Cataleya is usually pronounced kat-uh-LAY-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings