Holding steady.
Popularity of Ketty since 1953
Babies named Ketty per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ketty's real moment was 1978.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 36 |
| 1970s | 42 |
| 1980s | 14 |
| 1990s | 21 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ketty is a diminutive of Kitty, itself a pet form of Katherine, a name of Greek origin meaning 'pure'. In the United States, the name Ketty has been recorded since 1953, though it has never entered the top 1000. Its peak year was 1978, perhaps reflecting the broader popularity of names ending in the trendy '-ie' or '-y' sound during that era. The name has remained relatively stable in usage over the decades, with a very small but consistent number of births each year. Unlike many names from the 1970s that have seen revivals, Ketty has not experienced a resurgence. Its top states of usage are minimal, and the name remains a rare but recognizable choice, largely tied to the enduring affection for the root name Katherine and its many variants.
Ketty is a diminutive of Kitty, itself a pet form of Katherine. Katherine is of Greek origin, from Aikaterine, with folk etymology associating it with the Greek katharos, meaning 'pure'. Ketty emerged as an independent given name in English-speaking countries, particularly in the 20th century.
“Ketty” around the world
Where Ketty lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kit
Sibling names for Ketty
Names that share Ketty's style, for a brother or sister.
