Kate

Originally a diminutive of Katherine, derived from the Greek name Aikaterine with early associations to katharos, meaning clear or pure. The clipped form settled into English during the Middle Ages, reinforced by Shakespearean comedy and folk ballads. In the United States, it has operated as an independent legal first name since the earliest federal birth records in 1880.

The name bypasses preamble entirely, arriving in a single sharp syllable. It often suggests someone who volunteers to hold the boarding passes for the entire group. Because its independent peak arrived in 2007, the typical bearer is twenty-eight rather than eighty-eight. It gives the impression of someone who owns a label maker and knows where the batteries are.