Katara
A feminine name of American Indian origin meaning "a flowing body of water".
Name Census estimates that about 1,399 living Americans carry the first name Katara. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Katara today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Katara births was 2024 (69 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Katara. 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
1.4K
~ 1 in 245,000 Americans
Peak year
2024
69 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,564
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Katara: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Katara from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 355 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Katara 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 Katara during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kataras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. California, Illinois, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Katara, while Washington, Ohio, Indiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Katara
The name Katara is of Indian origin and dates back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "katar" which means "dagger" or "knife." This name was particularly popular among Hindu communities in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.
Katara is mentioned in several ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, often associated with deities or mythological figures known for their valor and strength. One notable example is the Katara Devi, a powerful warrior goddess revered in certain regions of India.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Katara can be found in ancient Indian inscriptions and historical records dating back to the 5th century CE. During this period, the name was commonly given to children, particularly in royal or warrior families, as a symbol of valor and courage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Katara. One of the most famous was Katara Devi (1504-1565), a brave warrior queen who ruled over the Bundelkhand region of central India. She is renowned for her military prowess and her successful defense against the Mughal Empire's invasion attempts.
Another notable figure was Katara Bai (1692-1783), a renowned courtesan and poetess from the Mughal era. She was highly skilled in music, dance, and literature, and her works have been preserved and celebrated in various anthologies.
In the 18th century, Katara Singh (1725-1792) was a prominent ruler of the Maratha Empire. He was known for his military tactics and played a significant role in the expansion of Maratha territories.
During the 19th century, Katara Devi (1835-1905) was a revered spiritual leader and social reformer from the state of Rajasthan. She advocated for women's education and worked towards abolishing regressive practices like child marriage and the practice of sati (widow immolation).
More recently, Katara Lakhia (1914-1998) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was instrumental in promoting and preserving the Kathak dance form and received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the performing arts.
People
Katara + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Katara as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Katara: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Katara?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,399 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Katara 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 245,000 US residents.
Is Katara a common name?
We classify Katara as "Rare". It ranks above 92.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,436 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Katara most popular?
The single biggest year for Katara was 2024, when 69 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Katara is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Katara a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Katara 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.
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.