Kay
A girls’ name of Greek origin, meaning rejoice or pure; form of Katherine or Katrina.
Kay by the numbers
In 2025, 3 babies in England and Wales were named Kay. In the US, 59 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 3,623 babies in 1942, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Katherine
Like Kay, each of these traces back to Katherine: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Katiepure; a diminutive of Katherine770 in the US (2017)
- Katelynpure; a modern variant of Katherine760 in the US (2017)
- Kathrynpure; variant spelling of Katherine744 in the US (2017)
- Kitdiminutive of Christopher or Katherine413 in England and Wales (2025)
- Kaelynpure; a modern variant of Katelyn or Katherine332 in the US (2017)
- Kathleenpure; a form of Katherine310 in the US (2017)
- Katrinavariant of Katherine; pure or unsullied193 in the US (2017)
- Katerinapure; a form of Katherine167 in the US (2017)
Names that come from Kay
Forms of Kay in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Kay. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean joy
Like Kay, each of these has joy in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Abigailmy father's joy10,557 in the US (2017)
- Asherhappy, blessed6,076 in the US (2017)
- Edendelight, paradise594 in England and Wales (2025)
- Jocelyncheerful or joyful; from Jocundus1,828 in the US (2017)
- Tatumcheerful or bringer of joy1,159 in the US (2017)
- Joyjoy; gladness and pleasure971 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean purity
Like Kay, each of these has purity in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.