
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Cataleya
The word Cataleya is of Spanish origin, and is derived from the name of a particular species of orchid called “Cattleya.” The orchid was named in honor of English botanist William Cattley, who had acquired a specimen of the orchid from William Swainson who had discovered the plant in Brazil in 1817. Cattley took care of the plant and managed to bloom it in Europe for the first time. In 1824, another botanist, John Lindley named the genus after Cattley. The specimen was named Cattleya Labiata.
Cataleya is a common name in Columbia. Since 1936, the cattleya trianae orchid, sometimes called “May flower” or “May lily,” has been Colombia’s national flower. Exclusive to South and Central America, the cattleya is a tropical orchid. As an epiphyte, it survives on trees and bark without consuming nutrients. Cattleya frequently chooses height and spreads itself higher up in trees because of the intense biological struggle in the jungle. Also, Cattleya is the most visually diverse orchid species. All Cattleyas have quite tough leaves as well. This implies they also require light inside because they receive a sizable quantity of light or sun in their native environment.
Kataliya, Katelaya, Catalaya, Kattaleya, and Cattleya are a few variations used worldwide. The name has various pronunciations for these variations, but the most common ones are kə-tal-ee-ə, kæ-tə-lay-ə and ka-tuh-lee-yuh.
After the release of the action movie “Colombiana” in 2011, whose lead actress Zoe Saldana played a female assassin named Cataleya, the name became more widely known in popular culture. The popularity of the movie may have increased the name’s recognition. Since that time, the name has risen in popularity as a given name for females, especially in Spanish-speaking nations like Colombia, where it is in the top 100 most common girl’s baby names. It has also grown in favor in other nations, such as the United States, where it has been presented to infant girls since at least the 2000s.
How To Pronounce Cataleya?
Cataleya On The Popularity Chart
Cataleya is a unique name that has only recently gained popularity. Check the two graphs by the Social Security Administration to understand the ranking and the popularity of the name since 2011.
Popularity Over Time
The name had just 21 babies per million in 2011 but peaked in 2021 with 1069 babies per million sharing the name. Check the graph for more.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name jumped to 480 in 2012 from 4825 in 2011. It has further improved to 297 in 2021. Check the graph for more information.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Cataleya
Cataleya is a unique name with an equally unique sound. If you are looking for more such names, here’s a list.
Names With Similar Meaning As Cataleya
Are you looking for a name with similar meaning as Cataleya for a sibling? Check out this list full of alternatives.
Name Numerology For Cataleya


