Katara
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 1,436 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Qatar (a country in West Asia in the Middle East)
Katara is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin, related to the country name Qatar (from the ancient tribe Qatari) — but in popular culture it is inseparably linked to Katara of the Water Tribe, the beloved waterbending heroine of Avatar: The Last Airbender, whose compassion and strength have made her one of animation's greatest characters.
EtymologyShow more
Katara appeared in SSA records in 1971, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Arabic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Katara’s 1,436 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Katara climbed 4063 spots in the last 20 years — from #6627 to #2564.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 311 | #2753 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 355 | #4368 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 227 | #6015 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 220 | #4936 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 214 | #4236 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 109 | #5268 | — |
The Story of Katara
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2024, Katara is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Katara are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Katara?
Only about 1 in every 52,174 babies born in 2024 was named Katara — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1971, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2010s with 355 births that decade, and continues to thrive.
Katara by the numbers
- Would fill 30 school buses
- Meeting one Katara per day would take 3.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(53 years, 1971–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 69 | #2564 |
| 2023 | 59 | #2866 |
| 2022 | 55 | #3010 |
| 2021 | 65 | #2658 |
| 2020 | 63 | #2669 |
| 2019 | 41 | #3689 |
| 2018 | 27 | #4938 |
| 2017 | 31 | #4529 |
| 2016 | 29 | #4783 |
| 2015 | 26 | #5210 |
| 2014 | 20 | #6317 |
| 2013 | 43 | #3608 |
| 2012 | 39 | #3955 |
| 2011 | 54 | #3107 |
| 2010 | 45 | #3544 |
| 2009 | 36 | #4235 |
| 2008 | 31 | #4817 |
| 2007 | 23 | #5993 |
| 2006 | 24 | #5628 |
| 2005 | 12 | #9156 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Katara a boy's or girl's name?
When was Katara most popular?
How popular is the name Katara?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2024