What does Katya mean?
Katya is a Russian pet form of Yekaterina (Katherine), “pure.”
What does Milena mean?
Milena comes from the Slavic mil, “gracious,” “dear” or “loving.”
Katya vs Milena
Which is more popular?
Milena is more popular than Katya today: about 271 US babies were given the name Milena in 2025, compared with 42 named Katya.
| Katya | Milena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pure | Gracious, dear |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | KAHT-yah | mee-LEH-nah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1962 | 1918 |
| Peak year | 2001 (146) | 2019 (428) |
| In 2025 | 42 | 271 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Katya
Milena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Katya | Milena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 314 | 2,083 |
| 2010s | 663 | 3,218 |
| 2000s | 1,086 | 1,351 |
| 1990s | 729 | 457 |
| 1980s | 226 | 239 |
| 1970s | 106 | 231 |
| 1960s | 52 | 94 |
| 1950s | 0 | 39 |
| 1940s | 0 | 26 |
| 1920s | 0 | 6 |
| 1910s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Katya or Milena more popular?
Milena is more popular than Katya today: about 271 US babies were given the name Milena in 2025, compared with 42 named Katya.
What is the difference between Katya and Milena?
Katya means Pure (Slavic origin), while Milena means Gracious, dear (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Katya or Milena?
In US records, Katya first appears in 1962 and Milena in 1918, so Milena has the longer recorded history.