Kitten
A diminutive form of the word "cat", used as an affectionate term.
Name Census estimates that about 39 living Americans carry the first name Kitten. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kitten today is around 66 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kitten births was 1946 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kitten. 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 Kitten is about 66 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kittens were born before 1970.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kitten. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
39
~ 1 in 8,788,573 Americans
Peak year
1946
7 babies that year
Average age
66
years old
1969 SSA rank
#8,028
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Kitten: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kitten from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 27 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
Kitten 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 Kitten during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kitten
The name Kitten is a relatively modern English name derived from the term for a young feline. It does not have a long history or deep etymological roots in any particular language or culture. The name likely emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century as a whimsical nickname or pet name for a child, perhaps inspired by the playful and innocent nature of kittens.
Despite its lack of ancient origins, there are a few notable individuals who have borne the name Kitten throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is Kitten Natividad (born 1948), an American actress and burlesque performer. She was known for her roles in various exploitation films in the 1970s and 1980s.
Another individual with the name Kitten is Kitten Pinder (born 1990), an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her work in the pop and R&B genres and has released several studio albums and singles.
In the world of literature, there is Kitten Holiday (born 1985), an American author and poet. She has published several collections of poetry and has been recognized for her unique literary voice.
Kitten Valmohammadi (born 1986) is an Iranian-American artist and illustrator. Her work has been featured in various publications and exhibitions, and she is known for her vibrant and whimsical style.
Lastly, Kitten Caboodle (born 1969) is an American drag queen and entertainer. She has been a prominent figure in the San Francisco drag scene and has been recognized for her charitable work and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
While the name Kitten may not have a rich historical or cultural background, these individuals have contributed to various fields and have helped to establish the name as a unique and memorable one, albeit with a playful and unconventional connotation.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kitten
People
Kitten + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kitten 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
Kitten: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kitten?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 39 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kitten 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 8,788,573 US residents.
Is Kitten a common name?
We classify Kitten as "Very Rare". It ranks above 50.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 54 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kitten most popular?
The single biggest year for Kitten was 1946, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kitten is about 66 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kitten a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kitten 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.