Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Kitty
GirlEnglish, Greek· “pet form of Katherine”
- Meaning
- pet form of Katherine
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- KIH-tee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #355 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Kitty
Kitty is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Katherine”.
Kitty is a traditional English pet form of Katherine, used since at least the eighteenth century. Katherine comes from the Greek Aikaterine, a name of uncertain origin long associated with katharos, pure. In literature, Kitty Bennet is one of the five sisters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and Kitty Shcherbatskaya is a central figure in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The name's link to kitten gives it a playful, cute feel, which is why some families use it as a nickname rather than a formal name. It is said KIH-tee, and Katherine, Kit and Kate are related choices.
Popularity over time
Kitty has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 87 different years. Its best national rank was #355 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 358 were named Kitty. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #786 in 1920, #548 in 1950, #2,295 in 1980, #6,659 in 2000, and #10,155 in 2010. Of the 11,657 US girls named Kitty since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 2,235 babies. Since 2010, 125 more have been named Kitty.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Cherry, Gilda, Marva, Delois, and Marilynn.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Kitty is usually pronounced KIH-tee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with K and ends in “-ty”.
Middle names for Kitty
A few middle names that flow with Kitty: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kitty
Similar names
Betty Girl
BEH-tee
“short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath” · English
#1,113
Wendy Girl
WEHN-dee
“popularized by Peter Pan” · English
#1,347
Penny Girl
PEH-nee
“short form of Penelope; also the coin” · English
#740
Dolly Girl
DAH-lee
“pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"” · English
#1,781
Daisy Girl
DAY-zee
“day's eye” · English
#75
Callie Girl
KAL-ee
“beautiful” · Greek
#175
Tessa Girl
TES-uh
“short for Theresa” · English
#311
Maggie Girl
MAG-ee
“pearl” · English
#294
Katie Girl
KAY-tee
“often said to mean 'pure'” · English
#646
Lexi Girl
LEHK-see
“defender; short for Alexandra” · English
#628
Cali Girl
KAL-ee
“beautiful; also a Colombian city” · Greek
#574
Dollie Girl
DAH-lee
“pet form of Dorothy” · Greek
#7,994
Lists that include Kitty
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kitty mean?
Kitty is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Katherine”.
What is the origin of the name Kitty?
Kitty has English and Greek roots. Kitty is a traditional English pet form of Katherine, used since at least the eighteenth century.
Is Kitty a popular name?
No. Kitty was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Kitty a boy or girl name?
Kitty is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Kitty?
Kitty is usually pronounced KIH-tee. 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