Catherine Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Catherine

Catherine Name Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: cath-er-in
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Catherine Name Meaning

The History of the Name Catherine: A Deep Dive

When it comes to girl’s names, Catherine is a classic that has stood the test of time. But where did this name come from? And what does it mean? Let’s dive into the history of Catherine to find out.

The Origin of Catherine

Catherine is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word “katharos,” which means “pure.” In ancient Greece, the name was used to honor the goddess of virginity and childbirth, Artemis.

Catherine in the Middle Ages

Catherine’s popularity really took off in the Middle Ages, thanks to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr and a patron saint of philosophers and students. She was a highly educated woman who converted many to Christianity with her wit and eloquence. Many churches and educational institutions were named after her, and she became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.

Catherine in the Renaissance

During the Renaissance, Catherine continued to be a popular name, with many famous women bearing the name, such as Catherine de’ Medici, the powerful queen of France who was known for her political savvy and patronage of the arts.

Catherine in Modern Times

Catherine has remained a popular name in modern times. It was the 10th most popular name in the United States in the 1950s, and has since fallen out of the top 100 names. However, it is still a timeless classic that never seems to go out of style.

The Meaning of Catherine

As we’ve established, the name Catherine comes from the Greek word “katharos,” which means “pure.” And it’s easy to see why this meaning would be appealing to parents. After all, who wouldn’t want their daughter to be pure of heart and soul?

Popularity of Catherine

While Catherine may not be as popular as it once was, it is still a timeless classic that has stood the test of time. It’s a name that has been borne by many strong and accomplished women throughout history, from Saint Catherine of Alexandria to Catherine de’ Medici. And it’s a name that continues to be chosen by parents today, a testament to its enduring appeal.

In conclusion, the name Catherine has an interesting history, a lovely meaning and it’s still a timeless classic. Though it’s not as popular as it once was, it has been chosen by many accomplished women throughout history, making it an ideal choice for parents today.

Catherine Name Popularity

How popular is the name Catherine? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	22	3,147	0.8938%
1911	20	3,558	0.9555%
1912	21	4,663	0.9247%
1913	22	5,293	0.9336%
1914	18	6,605	0.9478%
1915	19	8,172	0.8995%
1916	20	8,467	0.8765%
1917	18	8,686	0.8682%
1918	20	8,837	0.8234%
1919	23	8,326	0.7951%
1920	21	8,872	0.7979%
1921	23	8,881	0.7756%
1922	24	8,536	0.7662%
1923	24	8,435	0.7531%
1924	27	8,356	0.7196%
1925	29	7,863	0.6957%
1926	30	7,464	0.6786%
1927	31	7,251	0.6551%
1928	33	6,903	0.6452%
1929	34	6,268	0.6051%
1930	35	6,286	0.6018%
1931	36	5,639	0.5713%
1932	39	5,442	0.5508%
1933	44	4,905	0.5265%
1934	42	4,930	0.51%
1935	42	4,693	0.4829%
1936	44	4,532	0.4705%
1937	46	4,446	0.4512%
1938	48	4,519	0.4414%
1939	49	4,569	0.4492%
1940	53	4,576	0.4305%
1941	51	4,877	0.4333%
1942	49	5,262	0.4167%
1943	48	5,416	0.4149%
1944	49	5,251	0.4237%
1945	50	5,028	0.4123%
1946	48	6,366	0.4314%
1947	46	7,885	0.4724%
1948	41	8,245	0.5165%
1949	37	9,134	0.5678%
1950	34	9,655	0.5996%
1951	34	10,567	0.6232%
1952	34	11,054	0.6333%
1953	35	10,840	0.6125%
1954	32	11,081	0.6062%
1955	28	11,625	0.632%
1956	28	12,067	0.6389%
1957	37	11,147	0.5793%
1958	38	10,763	0.5695%
1959	40	10,023	0.5275%
1960	42	9,536	0.5033%
1961	48	9,246	0.4897%
1962	53	8,702	0.474%
1963	53	8,292	0.4619%
1964	54	8,236	0.4679%
1965	57	7,250	0.4433%
1966	55	6,960	0.4458%
1967	55	6,345	0.4181%
1968	56	6,127	0.408%
1969	58	6,094	0.3956%
1970	59	6,003	0.3772%
1971	65	5,335	0.355%
1972	65	4,685	0.344%
1973	67	4,265	0.329%
1974	73	4,182	0.3218%
1975	73	3,928	0.3057%
1976	72	3,778	0.2931%
1977	75	3,840	0.2849%
1978	72	3,953	0.294%
1979	78	3,872	0.2746%
1980	77	4,080	0.279%
1981	73	4,055	0.2759%
1982	73	4,096	0.2741%
1983	66	4,249	0.2879%
1984	69	4,237	0.2848%
1985	65	4,290	0.2826%
1986	67	4,239	0.2808%
1987	74	4,107	0.2691%
1988	69	4,503	0.289%
1989	67	4,555	0.2823%
1990	71	4,893	0.2952%
1991	72	4,812	0.2952%
1992	78	4,529	0.2837%
1993	75	4,472	0.2868%
1994	84	4,095	0.2668%
1995	90	3,858	0.256%
1996	95	3,733	0.2493%
1997	96	3,587	0.2425%
1998	102	3,340	0.2232%
1999	99	3,390	0.2264%
2000	81	3,797	0.2486%
2001	81	3,724	0.2472%
2002	101	3,290	0.2195%
2003	106	3,225	0.212%
2004	104	3,175	0.2083%
2005	109	2,977	0.1947%
2006	121	2,782	0.1777%
2007	142	2,449	0.1552%
2008	148	2,302	0.1489%
2009	176	1,866	0.1248%
2010	191	1,588	0.1102%
2011	162	1,908	0.1339%
2012	166	1,893	0.1328%
2013	170	1,846	0.1297%
2014	167	1,918	0.1316%
2015	174	1,785	0.1227%
2016	190	1,649	0.1144%
2017	193	1,552	0.1112%
2018	199	1,474	0.1073%
2019	235	1,275	0.0942%
2020	267	1,098	0.0863%
2021	332	877	0.0717%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Catherine

If you like Catherine, you’ll love these other names like Catherine.

What names are diminutives of Catherine?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Catherine sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Catherine, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Cassie	“The purified one,” in allusion to the plant cassia whose medicinal properties are laxative, but ultimately from the Greek kathairein, to cleanse.	English
Cathy	Pure	Greek
Kate	Pure	English
Kathie	Pure	Greek
Katie	Pure	English
Kit	Pure; follower of Christ	Latin
Kitty	A playful form of Catherine.	Greek
Trina	Triple	Scandinavian
Trine	Pure	Scandinavian
Trinette	Pure	Scandinavian

What names are variants of Catherine?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Catherine.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Cadi	Pure	Greek
Cait	Pure	Greek
Caitey	Pure	Greek
Caitie	Pure	Greek

Caitlin	Pure	Greek
Caitlinn	Pure	Greek
Caitria	Pure	Greek
Caitrin	Pure	Greek
Caitrine	Pure	Greek
Caitrinn	Pure	Greek
Caitriona	Pure	Greek
Caitrionagh	Pure	Greek
Caity	Pure	Greek
Caren	Beloved; pure	Latin
Cari	Love	Gaelic
Carin	Beloved; pure	Latin
Caron	Pure	Greek
Caronne	Pure	Greek
Carren	Pure	Greek

Carri	Free man; pure	Greek
Carrin	Pure	Greek
Carron	Pure	Greek
Caryn	Pure	Greek
Carynn	Pure	Greek
Cass	Man's defender	Greek
Cassey	Alert, watchful; pure	Irish
Cassi	Man's defender, warrior; pure	Greek
Cassie	“The purified one,” in allusion to the plant cassia whose medicinal properties are laxative, but ultimately from the Greek kathairein, to cleanse.	English
Cassy	Thorny tree; man's defender; man's defender, warrior; pure	Greek
Cat	Pure	Greek
Cataleen	Pure	Greek
Cataleena	Pure	Greek
Catalin	Pure	Greek
Catalina	Pure	Spanish

Cataline	Pure	Greek
Catarina	Pure	Greek
Catarine	Pure	Greek
Cate	Pure	Greek
Cateline	Pure	Greek
Caterina	Pure	Greek
Caterine	Pure	Greek
Catey	Pure	Greek
Cath	Pure	Greek
Catha	Pure	Greek
Cathaleen	Pure	Irish
Cathaline	Pure	Irish
Catharin	Pure	Greek
Catharina	Pure	Greek
Catharine	Pure	Greek

Catharyne	Pure	Greek
Cathatyna	Pure	Greek
Cathe	Pure	Greek
Cathee	Pure	Greek
Catheirn	Pure	Greek
Cathelin	Pure	Greek
Cathelina	Pure	Greek
Cathelle	Pure	Greek
Cathenne	Pure	Greek
Catheren	Pure	Greek
Catherin	Pure	Greek
Catherina	Pure	Greek
Catherinn	Pure	Greek
Cathern	Pure	Greek
Catheryn	Pure	Greek

Cathi	Pure	Greek
Cathie	Pure	Greek
Cathirin	Pure	Greek
Cathiryn	Pure	Greek
Cathleen	Pure	Greek
Cathlene	Pure	Greek
Cathline	Pure	Greek
Cathlyne	Pure	Greek
Cathrine	Pure	Greek
Cathrinn	Pure	Greek
Cathryn	Pure	Greek
Cathryne	Pure	Greek
Cathrynn	Pure	Greek
Cathy	Pure	Greek
Cathye	Pure	Greek

Cathyleen	Pure	Greek
Cati	Pure	Greek
Catia	Pure	Greek
Catie	Pure	Greek
Catlaina	Pure	Greek
Catlina	Pure	Greek
Cato	Pure	Greek
Catreena	Pure	Greek
Catrelle	Pure	Greek
Catrice	Pure	Greek
Catricia	Pure	Greek
Catrin	Pure	Greek
Catrina	Pure	Greek
Catrine	Pure	Greek
Catriona	Pure	Gaelic

Catrionagh	Pure	Greek
Catryna	Pure	Greek
Catteeka	Pure	Greek
Caty	Pure	Greek
Cay	Pure	Greek
Caye	Pure	Greek
Cazzy	Pure	Greek
Ekaterina	Pure	Greek
Kait	Pure	Greek
Kaitey	Pure	Greek
Kaitie	Pure	Greek
Kaitlin	Pure	Irish
Kaitlinne	Pure	Greek
Kaitrin	Pure	Greek
Kaitrine	Pure	Greek

Kaitrinna	Pure	Greek
Kaitriona	Pure	Greek
Kaitrionaugh	Pure	Greek
Kaity	Pure	Greek
Karen	A Scandinavian form of Catherine.	Danish
Karena	Beloved; pure	Scandinavian
Kari	Free man; pure	Greek
Karin	A variant form of Karen.	Scandinavian
Karon	Pure	Greek
Karri	Pure	Greek
Karrin	Pure	Greek
Karyn	Pure	Greek
Karynn	Pure	Greek
Kasia	Pure	Greek
Kasienka	Pure	Greek

Kasja	Pure	Greek
Kaska	Pure	Greek
Kass	Pure	Greek
Kassey	Pure	Greek
Kassia		Polish
Kassy	Thorny tree; man's defender, warrior; pure	Greek
Kasya	Pure	Greek
Kat	Pure	Greek
Kata	Pure	Greek
Kataleen	Pure	Greek
Katalin	Pure	Greek
Katalina	Pure	Greek
Katarina	Pure	Greek
Katchen	Pure	Greek
Kate	Pure	English

Katee	Pure	Greek
Katelijn	Pure	Greek
Katell	Pure	Greek
Katelle	Pure	Greek
Katenka	Pure	Greek
Katerina	Pure	Greek
Katerinka	Pure	Greek
Katey	Pure	Greek
Katha	Pure	Irish
Katharine	Pure	Greek
Katharyn	Pure	Greek
Katharyne	Pure	Greek
Kathee	Pure	Greek
Kathelina	Pure	Irish
Katheline	Pure	Irish

Katherin	Pure	Greek
Katherina	Pure	Greek
Katherine	Pure	Greek
Katheryn	Pure	Greek
Katherynn	Pure	Greek
Kathi	Pure	Greek
Kathie	Pure	Greek
Kathileen	Pure	Greek
Kathiryn	Pure	Greek
Kathleen	An Irish equivalent of Catherine.	Irish
Kathlene	Pure	Irish
Kathleyn	Pure	Irish
Kathline	Pure	Irish
Kathrine	Pure	Greek
Kathrinna	Pure	Greek

Kathryn	Pure	Greek
Kathryne	Pure	Greek
Kathy	Short form of Katherine	English
Kathyleen	Pure	Greek
Kathyrine	Pure	Greek
Kati	Pure	Greek
Katia	Pure	Greek
Katica	Pure	Greek
Katie	Pure	English
Katina	Pure	Latin
Katinka	Pure	Greek
Katka	Pure	Greek
Katla	Pure	Greek
Katlaina	Pure	Greek
Katleen	Pure	Irish

Katoushka	Pure	Greek
Katouska	Pure	Greek
Katrena	Pure	Greek
Katrien	Pure	Greek
Katrina	A German form of Catherine.	Greek
Katrine	Pure	Greek
Katriona	Pure	Greek
Katrionaugh	Pure	Greek
Katryna	Pure	Greek
Katushka	Pure	Greek
Katuska	Pure	Greek
Katy	Pure	Greek
Katya	Pure	Greek
Kay	A short form of Kate or Catherine.
Kaye	Pure	Greek

Kit	Pure; follower of Christ	Latin
Kittee	Pure	Greek
Kittie	Pure	Greek
Kitty	A playful form of Catherine.	Greek
Riona	Queenly	Irish
Trina	Triple	Scandinavian
Trine	Pure	Scandinavian
Trinette	Pure	Scandinavian
Yekaterin	Pure	Greek
Yekaterina		Russian

What names sound like Catherine?

If you like how Catherine sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Catherine.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Catharyna	Pure	Greek
Catreina	Pure	Greek
Katheryne	Pure	Greek
Kathirin	Pure	Greek
Kathrene	Pure	Greek

Kathrina	Pure	Greek

What names are similar to Catherine?

Find a name that’s like Catherine, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Cady	Pure	Greek

Lists With Catherine

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Catherine.

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2 Comments

Angela May 24 at 1:08 pm

I chose the name Catherine because it was my husbands moms middle name who passed away a year earlier. So I chose it to honor my fianc?’s mother

Reply
- SweetSue Jan 2 at 2:51 pm
  
  Angela, you chose a good name! Catherine is a name that is sophisticated, classic and timeless. I named my daughter Catherine. Her nickname is Catie. She loves her name and nickname — and it fits her so well!
  
  Reply

Catherine