name
Uncommon
Katy
KAY-tee
Katy (name) means a diminutive of Katherine, a variant of Katie. Example: “Katy Perry built her stage name around this familiar nickname.”
name
1
A diminutive of Katherine, a variant of Katie.
"Katy Perry built her stage name around this familiar nickname."
"Katy Carr serves her sentence with pain and her character changes as a result – or so the author implies; but the two Katys, the hoyden and the high-principled young lady, hardly seem to be the same girl."
— Margery Fisher, Katy Carr (1975)
2
A city in Texas, named after the old Missouri–Kansas–Texas railroad, nicknamed "the Katy."
"When the Katy came through, the town’s entire economy and culture changed."
"The family relocated to Katy, Texas, for his new job."
How to use Katy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common nickname for Katherine, and also a Texas city named after a historic railroad.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Katy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Katys, Katies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ Perry built her stage name around this familiar nickname.
Rhymes for Katy
See all rhymes for Katy →Frequently asked questions
What does “Katy” mean?
The word “Katy” means a diminutive of Katherine, a variant of Katie. In plain terms, a common nickname for Katherine, and also a Texas city named after a historic railroad.
How do you pronounce “Katy”?
“Katy” is pronounced KAY-tee ([ˈkʰeɪ̯ɾi] in IPA).
How do you use “Katy” in a sentence?
Here is “Katy” used in a sentence: “Katy Perry built her stage name around this familiar nickname.”
What part of speech is “Katy”?
“Katy” is a name.
Is “Katy” a common word?
“Katy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Katy” have?
“Katy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a diminutive of Katherine, a variant of Katie.
Is Katy the same as Katie?
Katy is a diminutive of Katherine and a variant spelling of Katie. The two spellings are used interchangeably as short forms, with the choice usually coming down to personal preference.
Why is Katy, Texas called 'the Katy'?
Katy, Texas is named after the old Missouri–Kansas–Texas railroad, which was nicknamed 'the Katy' from its initials, MKT. The city took its name directly from that railroad nickname.
Is Katy a given name or a place name?
Katy is both: it is a diminutive of Katherine used as a given name, and separately the name of a city in Texas named after the old Missouri–Kansas–Texas railroad.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Katy:
