Rising since 2011, #237 for girls today.
Popularity of Cataleya since 2011
Babies named Cataleya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 5,435 |
| 2020s | 6,520 |
Meaning & origin
Cataleya is a modern invention that has rapidly climbed the U.S. popularity charts since its first recorded use in 2011. By 2025 it reached rank 237, with a 1-in-1,223 birth rate, and it shows no sign of slowing down. The name is most popular in Southwestern states such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, and is almost exclusively given to girls. Its rise may be linked to the 2011 film 'Colombiana', but the name itself likely derives from the Cattleya orchid or a stylish respelling of Catalina.
Cataleya first appears in U.S. naming records in 2011, likely inspired by the Cattleya orchid, named after English botanist William Cattley. It may also be a creative respelling of Catalina, the Spanish and Slavic form of Katherine. The name has risen quickly in popularity, possibly influenced by its use in the 2011 film 'Colombiana', though the true origin is modern and invented.
Where Cataleya is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Cataleya” around the world
Where Cataleya lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
375
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cata, Leya, Cat
Sibling names for Cataleya
Names that share Cataleya's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Cataleya
Names whose popularity has moved with Cataleya's over the last 50 years.
