What does Yana mean?
Yana is a Slavic form of Jane/Joanna, “God is gracious.”
What does Katya mean?
Katya is a Russian pet form of Yekaterina (Katherine), “pure.”
Yana vs Katya
Which is more popular?
Yana is more popular than Katya today: about 75 US babies were given the name Yana in 2025, compared with 42 named Katya.
| Yana | Katya | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Pure |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | YAH-nah | KAHT-yah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1955 | 1962 |
| Peak year | 2024 (106) | 2001 (146) |
| In 2025 | 75 | 42 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Yana
Katya
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Yana | Katya |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 543 | 314 |
| 2010s | 869 | 663 |
| 2000s | 668 | 1,086 |
| 1990s | 182 | 729 |
| 1980s | 118 | 226 |
| 1970s | 158 | 106 |
| 1960s | 61 | 52 |
| 1950s | 71 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Yana or Katya more popular?
Yana is more popular than Katya today: about 75 US babies were given the name Yana in 2025, compared with 42 named Katya.
What is the difference between Yana and Katya?
Yana means God is gracious (Slavic origin), while Katya means Pure (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Yana or Katya?
In US records, Yana first appears in 1955 and Katya in 1962, so Yana has the longer recorded history.