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Katya

Girl name · 13 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Katya: 13 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2004.

A familiar yet exotic choice in Scotland, Katya is the Russian and Slavic short form of Ekaterina, itself deriving from the Greek Aikaterine, long linked to the word katharos, meaning ‘pure’. The name has travelled widely through popular culture, from Soviet gymnast Katya to the comedienne Katya Zamolodchikova, but is perhaps best known in British households thanks to Katya Jones, the Russian-born professional dancer on *Strictly Come Dancing*. Though no major place bears the name directly, its root shares kinship with Saint Catherine’s, the Edinburgh landmark. As a diminutive, Katya carries a warmth and playfulness that stands independently while honouring the timeless elegance of Catherine—a name that has ranked modestly but consistently among Scottish births since the 1970s.