Kathay
A feminine name of Indian origin interpreted as "storyteller".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Kathay. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kathay today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kathay births was 1947 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kathay. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Kathay is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kathays were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kathay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1947
5 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1947 SSA rank
#5,700
Tracked since 1947
Popularity
Kathay: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kathay 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 Kathay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kathay
The name Kathay is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which was predominant in ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "katha," which means "story" or "narrative." The name's roots can be traced back to the 1st century BCE, when Sanskrit was widely used across the Indian subcontinent.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, the word "katha" is frequently mentioned in the context of storytelling and the transmission of knowledge through oral traditions. The name Kathay may have been given to individuals who were skilled storytellers or had a deep understanding of ancient narratives.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Kathay can be found in the Mahabharata, a renowned Sanskrit epic that dates back to the 3rd century BCE. In this ancient text, there is a character named Kathayani, which is a feminine variation of Kathay, implying a connection to storytelling or the dissemination of knowledge.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kathay. One such person was Kathay, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century CE during the Pala Empire in ancient Bengal (present-day Bangladesh and parts of India). His works were widely celebrated for their literary prowess and their ability to captivate audiences with his storytelling skills.
Another historical figure named Kathay was a Buddhist monk who lived in the 12th century CE in the Nalanda Mahavihara, a renowned center of Buddhist learning in ancient India. He was renowned for his vast knowledge of Buddhist scriptures and his ability to convey complex philosophical concepts through engaging narratives.
In the 14th century CE, there was a famous Sufi mystic and poet from Persia named Kathay al-Din Rumi. Although his name was not directly derived from the Sanskrit word "katha," it is believed that his mastery of storytelling and his ability to convey spiritual teachings through poetry might have earned him the epithet "Kathay," which means "the storyteller."
During the 16th century, there was a renowned Kathak dancer named Kathay Devi, who hailed from the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was celebrated for her exceptional skill in this classical Indian dance form, which was known for its intricate footwork and storytelling through movement.
In the 18th century, a famous Indian painter named Kathay Singh was renowned for his intricate miniature paintings that depicted scenes from Hindu mythology and epics. His works were known for their intricate details and their ability to bring ancient narratives to life through his artistic mastery.
People
Kathay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kathay 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
Kathay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kathay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kathay 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Kathay a common name?
We classify Kathay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kathay most popular?
The single biggest year for Kathay was 1947, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kathay is about 70 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 Kathay in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kathay a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kathay 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 Kathay still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kathay 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 Kathay 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 Kathay?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.