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At a Glance: Name: Kay – Meaning: disputed; Welsh Arthurian name for boys, short form of Katherine for girls – Origin: Welsh/English – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: KAY
Kay (pronounced KAY) is a short, clean, modern-feeling name that can suit a child of any gender. It has Welsh and English roots, used as a Welsh Arthurian name for boys and as a short form of Katherine for girls, though its exact meaning is disputed.
Meaning & Origin of Kay
Meaning: Disputed; welsh arthurian name for boys, short form of katherine for girls.
Origin: Welsh/English.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kay
Phonetic: KAY IPA: /ˈkeɪ/
Popularity of Kay
Kay peaked at #70 in 1941, when 3,538 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #3912 with 38 babies, so it's now a rare pick.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1882–2024.
Make Kay Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kay, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Kay mean?
Disputed; welsh arthurian name for boys, short form of katherine for girls. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kay)
How do you pronounce Kay?
Kay is pronounced KAY (IPA: /ˈkeɪ/).
Is Kay a popular name right now?
Kay peaked at #70 in 1941 and is ranked #3912 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1882–2024.)
📊 How popular is Kay? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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