Kay
Kay is an girl name of English origin, meaning “Pet form of K-names”.
| Meaning | Pet form of K-names |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | English |
| Pronunciation | KAY |
| Tradition | Modern & Classic, Christian |
| Used in | United States, United Kingdom, Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Kay
Kay began as a short form of Katherine and other names starting with K, and is also simply the name of the letter. It became an independent girls' name in the English-speaking world in the early twentieth century. As a male name it recalls Sir Kay, King Arthur's foster-brother in the Arthurian legends, whose Welsh name Cai probably comes from the Latin Gaius. The meanings 'pure' and 'rejoice' are borrowed from Katherine and Gaius respectively.
Is Kay a religious name?
Kay has no religious meaning of its own; any Christian link comes through Katherine, the name of several saints.
How popular is Kay?
Popular mid-century in the US and UK, now mostly used as a middle name.
Gifts with the name Kay
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Spellings and variants of Kay
Names similar to Kay
More girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kay mean?
Kay means 'Pet form of K-names'. It is of English origin.
Does Kay have a religious meaning?
Kay has no religious meaning of its own; any Christian link comes through Katherine, the name of several saints.
How do you pronounce Kay?
Kay is pronounced KAY.
Is Kay a boy or girl name?
Kay is usually a girl name.