Catalea
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from the plant name catalpa.
Name Census estimates that about 182 living Americans carry the first name Catalea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Catalea today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Catalea births was 2018 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Catalea. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
182
~ 1 in 1,883,266 Americans
Peak year
2018
21 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,192
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Catalea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Catalea from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 104 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Catalea remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Catalea by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Catalea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cataleas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Catalea
The name Catalea has its origins in the ancient Greek language and can be traced back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "kataleios," which means "to be left behind" or "to remain." The name is believed to have been used in various regions of ancient Greece, particularly in Athens and the surrounding areas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Catalea can be found in the works of the Greek playwright Aristophanes, who lived from around 446 BC to 386 BC. In his play "The Frogs," Catalea is mentioned as the name of a character, though details about her significance are scarce.
During the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th century AD to the 15th century AD, the name Catalea gained popularity among the Greek-speaking population of the Byzantine Empire. In the 9th century AD, a Byzantine noblewoman named Catalea was known for her involvement in a political scandal that ultimately led to the downfall of the ruling emperor, Michael III.
In the 12th century AD, a renowned Byzantine scholar and poet named Catalea Komnene made significant contributions to the literary and intellectual landscape of her time. She was known for her expertise in various fields, including philosophy, theology, and the arts.
During the Renaissance period, the name Catalea resurfaced in Italy, where it was often associated with individuals from noble or affluent families. One notable figure was Catalea Visconti, a 15th-century Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, who played a significant role in the cultural and artistic development of Milan.
In the 18th century, a French philosopher and writer named Catalea de Gournay gained recognition for her influential works on ethics and her advocacy for women's education. She was born in 1564 and is remembered as one of the earliest feminist thinkers in France.
Throughout history, the name Catalea has been carried by various individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, although its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time. While the name may not be as common in modern times, its rich history and linguistic roots serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient Greek culture and its influence on language and naming traditions.
People
Catalea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Catalea as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Catalea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Catalea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 182 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Catalea going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,883,266 US residents.
Is Catalea a common name?
We classify Catalea as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 183 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Catalea most popular?
The single biggest year for Catalea was 2018, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Catalea is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Catalea in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Catalea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Catalea in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Catalea still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Catalea in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Catalea can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Catalea?
Find out how many people have the name Catalea on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.