UK girl's name
Katniss
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from an edible plant.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Katniss is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Katniss popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4003, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 5 births.
This profile covers 5 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2014 to 2014. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Katniss is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 5 living people in the UK are called Katniss. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Katniss ranked #4003 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 5 girls were registered as Katniss.
- • About 5 living people in the UK are estimated to have Katniss as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4003
2014
Births in 2014
5
Latest year
Peak year
2014
5 births
Estimated living
5
2026
Meaning
What does Katniss mean?
The name Katniss is a modern invention, first appearing in the 21st century Hunger Games book series by Suzanne Collins. It is not derived from any known language or culture and has no historical background or references in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records.
As a newly created name, there are no recorded examples or famous individuals bearing the name Katniss prior to the publication of the Hunger Games novels. The name gained widespread recognition and popularity after the release of the first book, "The Hunger Games," in 2008, and the subsequent film adaptations starring Jennifer Lawrence as the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen.
While the name Katniss itself does not have a documented history or etymology, it has been speculated that the author, Suzanne Collins, may have drawn inspiration from the word "catnip" or the plant genus Catmint (Nepeta) when creating the name. However, there is no official confirmation from the author regarding the name's origin or meaning.
Prior to the Hunger Games series, the name Katniss was virtually non-existent and had no recorded usage. Its sudden prominence and widespread recognition are solely attributed to the immense popularity of the Hunger Games novels and films, which have introduced the name to a global audience.
While there may be individuals who have adopted or been given the name Katniss in recent years due to the influence of the Hunger Games franchise, there are no notable historical figures or famous individuals throughout history who have borne this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Katniss by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Katniss was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4003 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Katniss
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Katniss: questions and answers
How popular is the name Katniss in the UK right now?
In 2014, Katniss was ranked #4003 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Katniss most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 5 babies registered as Katniss in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Katniss?
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from an edible plant.
How many people are called Katniss in the UK?
A total of 5 babies have been registered as Katniss across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.