Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1998

Katja

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #16,086
Rank 2025
#16,086
among girls · ↓5,408 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
5
named Katja
How common
1 in 321,453
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1998
48 babies
All-time total
949
#7,790 all-time among girls
First recorded
1963
in Social Security records

Katja popularity over time

949 babies have been named Katja since 1963, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1998Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s 51 5 – #4,565
1970s 107 11 +110% #4,190
1980s 88 9 -18% #6,331
1990s 253 25 +187% #2,785
2000s 247 25 -2% #3,912
2010s 151 15 -39% #5,919
2020s (to 2025) 52 9 -43% #7,830

The story of Katja

Katja is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #16,086 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1963, 949 American babies have been named Katja. Its peak came in 1998, when 48 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Katja stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Katja?

The median living Katja is about 26 years old; half are between 17 and 36. An estimated 900 people named Katja are alive in the United States today.

median 26 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Katja year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 5 #16,086
2024 9 #10,678
2023 8 #11,703
2022 7 #12,891
2021 14 #7,830
2020 9 #10,688
2019 15 #7,531
2018 19 #6,386
2017 9 #11,146
2016 14 #8,198
2015 16 #7,437
2014 7 #13,810
2013 22 #5,919
2012 13 #8,888
2011 17 #7,263
2010 19 #6,771
2009 17 #7,517
2008 22 #6,250
2007 22 #6,204
2006 22 #6,024
2005 25 #5,181
2004 27 #4,875
2003 35 #3,912
2002 28 #4,441
2001 20 #5,696
2000 29 #4,238
1995 25 #4,147
1990 19 #4,952
1985 6 #9,898
1980 9 #7,055
1975 9 #6,174
1970 13 #4,352
1965 9 #4,643
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Katja

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Katja Riemann Katja Riemann German actress (born 1963) Contemporary
  2. 2 Katja Ebstein Katja Ebstein German singer (born 1945) Contemporary
  3. 3 Katja Seizinger Katja Seizinger German alpine skier b. 1972 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Katja Woywood Katja Woywood German actress b. 1971 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Katja K Katja K Danish pornographic actress, actress, singer and fashion designer (born 1968) Contemporary
  6. 6 Katja Kipping Katja Kipping German politician b. 1978 · Contemporary
  7. 7 Katja Nyberg Katja Nyberg Norwegian handball player (born 1979) Contemporary
  8. 8 Katja Kassin Pornographic actor, Germany b. 1979 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Katja, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Katja?

The median living Katja is about 26 years old. Half of all living Katjas are between 17 and 36 years old.

How many people named Katja are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Katja are alive in the United States, based on 949 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Katja in 2025?

Katja ranked #16,086 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Katja?

949 babies have been named Katja in the United States since 1963, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Katja most popular?

Katja peaked in 1998, when 48 newborns received the name.

Is Katja a boy or girl name?

Katja is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Katja rising or falling?

Katja is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Katja?

Well-known people named Katja include Katja Riemann (actor), Katja Ebstein (singer), Katja Seizinger (skier).

Names like Katja

Names that sound and feel close to Katja: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Katja with similar names → More names starting with K →