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