What does Nadya mean?
A Slavic short form of Russian Nadezhda ('hope'), from the Old Slavic word for hope. Used both as a nickname and an independent name.
What does Katya mean?
Katya is a Russian pet form of Yekaterina (Katherine), “pure.”
Nadya vs Katya
Which is more popular?
Katya is more popular than Nadya today: about 42 US babies were given the name Katya in 2025, compared with 0 named Nadya.
| Nadya | Katya | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | hope | Pure |
| Origin | slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NAHD-yah | KAHT-yah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1962 |
| Peak year | 2006 (115) | 2001 (146) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 42 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nadya
Katya
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nadya | Katya |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 190 | 314 |
| 2010s | 625 | 663 |
| 2000s | 951 | 1,086 |
| 1990s | 421 | 729 |
| 1980s | 226 | 226 |
| 1970s | 118 | 106 |
| 1960s | 47 | 52 |
| 1950s | 28 | 0 |
| 1940s | 31 | 0 |
| 1930s | 5 | 0 |
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nadya or Katya more popular?
Katya is more popular than Nadya today: about 42 US babies were given the name Katya in 2025, compared with 0 named Nadya.
What is the difference between Nadya and Katya?
Nadya means hope (slavic origin), while Katya means Pure (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Nadya or Katya?
In US records, Nadya first appears in 0 and Katya in 1962, so Nadya has the longer recorded history.