Entry № 1259 · English origin

Katniss Katniss — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ KAT-nis /
Gender
Girl
Origin
English
Meaning
"Arrowhead plant (The Hunger Games heroine)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Modern (English)

A name that means "arrowhead plant (the hunger games heroine)".

Katniss is the English common name of the edible aquatic plant *Sagittaria* — also called "arrowhead" or "duck-potato" — chosen by Suzanne Collins for her heroine to evoke wilderness, food gathering, and Diana the huntress. **Katniss Everdeen of District 12** — protagonist of Suzanne Collins's *The Hunger Games* trilogy (2008-2010), the **most popular American young adult dystopian series of the 21st century, with over 100 million copies sold**. **Portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the four-film adaptation (2012-2015)** that grossed over $2.97 billion globally. **The name has been steadily entering US baby-name records since 2012**, peaking at around 150 births per year. **A modern feminist warrior archetype**.

Subject of Collins's *The Hunger Games* (2008), *Catching Fire*, and *Mockingjay*.

Arrowhead plant. The Hunger Games's modern feminist warrior archetype.

The name in its native script.

Katniss
Transliteration
Katniss
Pronunciation
/ ˈkæt.nɪs /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Katniss stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Katniss · last year
130 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Katnisss before her.

Real people
Suzanne Collins
Author of The Hunger Games.
born 1962
In fiction
Katniss Everdeen
The Hunger Games.
2008

Names connected to Katniss.

The number behind Katniss.

3

The Communicator

Katniss reduces to three — the number of Hunger Games heroine.

Why families chose this name.

"Arrowhead plant. Seven letters. Katniss."
Eleanor · Mother of one · District 12