Rising since 1986, #3,389 for girls today.
Popularity of Katana since 1958
Babies named Katana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 43 |
| 1990s | 255 |
| 2000s | 486 |
| 2010s | 558 |
| 2020s | 384 |
Meaning & origin
Katana is a modern feminine name that entered U.S. records in 1958, but saw its peak popularity in 2023, reflecting a steady rise since the mid-1980s. In 2025, it ranked 3,389 with approximately 1 in 35,717 female births. The name's direct association with the iconic Japanese sword gives it an edgy, powerful image, and its growing use aligns with broader trends of adopting noun names and Japanese-inspired choices. While it has not yet charted among top state lists, Katana's upward trajectory suggests increasing familiarity in the English-speaking world.
The name Katana is taken directly from the Japanese word 刀 (katana), referring to a traditional curved single-edged sword. Its use as a personal name is modern, primarily in English-speaking countries, and likely inspired by the weapon's cultural prominence in media. It follows a trend of using nouns as given names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Katy, Kata
Sibling names for Katana
Names that share Katana's style, for a brother or sister.
