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Why parents love Cataleya- The cattleya orchid is one of the most beautiful flowers on Earth.
- Colombiana's Cataleya is fierce, resourceful, and unforgettable.
- Four syllables with a flowing, exotic sound: cah-tah-LAY-ah.
- The orchid association gives it rare, tropical beauty.
- It's rising rapidly — distinctive and memorable.
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The vibe of Cataleya
orchidColombianfierceProusttropicalexoticflowingspectacular
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Origin & history of Cataleya
William Cattley (English horticulturist)
→ Cattleya (orchid genus)
→ given name Cataleya
1
Modern American roots
Cataleya takes its name from the cattleya orchid, named for English horticulturist William Cattley. Cattleya orchids are among the most spectacular tropical flowers, often called the corsage orchid. The 2011 film Colombiana starred Zoe Saldaña as Cataleya Restrepo, a fierce assassin, making the name recognisable. In Proust's In Search of Lost Time, the cattleya orchid is Odette's signature flower. The name has climbed the US charts rapidly, especially in Latin American communities.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: The orchid genus was named in 1824; the given name gained prominence through the film Colombiana (2011).
3
Today
Cataleya remains a beloved choice, ranking #388 in the US. 10,632 babies have been named Cataleya since 2011.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Cataleya?
2024
peak year
Today, Cataleya ranks around #388 in the United States, with roughly 858 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2024, 1,311 babies were given the name (ranked #236 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2010s. Cataleya has been trending upward in recent years. In all, around 10,632 babies have been registered as Cataleya since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,311
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #236)
(ranked #236)
858
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
8,580
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
10,632
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Cataleya5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.
Cataleya's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — the orchid that commands attention. People named Cataleya tend to be striking, expressive, and impossible to overlook.
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Commands attention✦
Striking presence◈
Impossible to overlook◎
Tropical power♡
Orchid-rare beautyC3
A1
T2
A1
L3
E5
Y7
A1
Sum: 23 → Life path 5
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Personality of Cataleya🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
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Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
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Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
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Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
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Famous people named CataleyaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Cataleya, you may also love◎
Names that sound like CataleyaIf you love Cataleya, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with CataleyaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Cataleya.
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Middle names for CataleyaThe right middle name turns Cataleya into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Cataleya? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Cataleya →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
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7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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