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

Katherine Name Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: kath-er-in
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Katherine Name Meaning

The name Katherine, also spelled Kathryn or Catherine, has a rich history and origin dating back to ancient Greece. The name is derived from the Greek name “Aikaterine,” which is composed of the elements “katharos,” meaning pure, and “heros,” meaning leader. This gives the name Katherine a meaning of “pure leader.”

Origins of the Name Katherine

The name was borne by a number of early Christian saints, including Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr of the 4th century. Saint Catherine was known for her intelligence and beauty, as well as her devotion to Christianity. She is the patron saint of scholars, philosophers, and nurses.

Popularity of the Name Katherine

Katherine has been a popular name for centuries, but it reached its peak of popularity in the early 20th century. The name was the 13th most popular name for baby girls in the United States in the year 1910, and remained in the top 100 names for baby girls for most of the 20th century.

In recent years, the popularity of the name Katherine has decreased, but it is still a timeless classic that never seems to go out of style. It’s still a top 1000 name in US and UK, as of 2021.

Famous Katherines

Throughout history, there have been many famous women named Katherine, including:

Katherine Hepburn, the legendary American actress who won four Academy Awards for Best Actress.
Katherine Graham, the publisher of the Washington Post who helped lead the newspaper to a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Watergate scandal.
Katherine Johnson, an American mathematician and NASA employee whose calculations were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights.
Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England.
Katherine the Great, Catherine II of Russia, also known as Catherine the Great, was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from 1762 until her death in 1796.

Final Thoughts on the Name Katherine

Katherine is a classic name that has many cute nicknames, such as Kate, Kathy, Katie, Kat, Kathy, Kay, Kaye, Kayla, Kaye, and more.

Katherine is a timeless classic name that has been popular for centuries and has a rich history and origin. The name is derived from Greek and means “pure leader,” which is fitting for any little girl who bears it. The name Katherine has a number of famous bearers, and has many cute nicknames to choose from.

Katherine Name Popularity

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

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	57	1,741	0.4945%
1911	54	1,849	0.4965%
1912	53	2,537	0.5031%
1913	54	2,783	0.4909%
1914	48	3,646	0.5232%
1915	49	4,488	0.494%
1916	52	4,797	0.4966%
1917	49	4,949	0.4947%
1918	50	5,185	0.4831%
1919	51	4,838	0.462%
1920	45	5,276	0.4745%
1921	49	5,152	0.4499%
1922	54	4,826	0.4332%
1923	60	4,575	0.4085%
1924	59	4,691	0.404%
1925	61	4,239	0.375%
1926	72	3,830	0.3482%
1927	73	3,721	0.3362%
1928	75	3,391	0.3169%
1929	84	3,011	0.2907%
1930	85	3,032	0.2903%
1931	91	2,615	0.2649%
1932	95	2,584	0.2615%
1933	100	2,321	0.2491%
1934	100	2,380	0.2462%
1935	103	2,331	0.2399%
1936	100	2,351	0.2441%
1937	103	2,477	0.2514%
1938	105	2,566	0.2507%
1939	102	2,468	0.2426%
1940	91	2,700	0.254%
1941	85	3,002	0.2667%
1942	81	3,374	0.2672%
1943	77	3,614	0.2768%
1944	77	3,520	0.284%
1945	82	3,388	0.2778%
1946	78	4,193	0.2842%
1947	76	4,886	0.2927%
1948	68	5,170	0.3239%
1949	58	6,040	0.3755%
1950	58	6,204	0.3853%
1951	55	6,927	0.4086%
1952	59	6,891	0.3948%
1953	63	6,559	0.3706%
1954	64	6,737	0.3685%
1955	64	7,241	0.3937%
1956	67	7,080	0.3749%
1957	72	6,635	0.3448%
1958	74	6,435	0.3405%
1959	79	6,138	0.3231%
1960	80	5,877	0.3102%
1961	85	5,631	0.2983%
1962	83	5,272	0.2872%
1963	86	5,126	0.2856%
1964	82	5,073	0.2882%
1965	79	4,710	0.288%
1966	78	4,494	0.2878%
1967	76	4,558	0.3004%
1968	75	4,720	0.3143%
1969	70	5,168	0.3355%
1970	67	5,443	0.342%
1971	67	5,123	0.3409%
1972	69	4,513	0.3313%
1973	64	4,419	0.3409%
1974	62	4,529	0.3485%
1975	58	4,854	0.3777%
1976	57	5,056	0.3923%
1977	44	6,032	0.4475%
1978	38	6,622	0.4925%
1979	36	7,468	0.5296%
1980	35	8,019	0.5484%
1981	39	8,434	0.5738%
1982	36	9,181	0.6144%
1983	34	9,682	0.6561%
1984	30	10,157	0.6828%
1985	32	10,127	0.6672%
1986	28	10,571	0.7003%
1987	28	10,433	0.6837%
1988	27	11,149	0.7154%
1989	26	11,415	0.7074%
1990	26	11,624	0.7013%
1991	25	11,489	0.7049%
1992	27	11,148	0.6984%
1993	29	10,506	0.6739%
1994	30	9,585	0.6246%
1995	30	8,985	0.5962%
1996	31	8,875	0.5927%
1997	32	8,516	0.5758%
1998	33	8,204	0.5481%
1999	36	7,933	0.5297%
2000	33	8,107	0.5307%
2001	35	7,879	0.5229%
2002	36	7,208	0.481%
2003	35	7,125	0.4683%
2004	35	6,738	0.4421%
2005	36	6,390	0.4179%
2006	37	6,293	0.4019%
2007	39	5,816	0.3686%
2008	45	5,342	0.3456%
2009	60	4,422	0.2959%
2010	69	3,858	0.2677%
2011	61	4,182	0.2935%
2012	64	3,935	0.2761%
2013	77	3,704	0.2602%
2014	83	3,666	0.2516%
2015	84	3,435	0.2361%
2016	91	3,261	0.2262%
2017	105	2,826	0.2025%
2018	110	2,659	0.1935%
2019	119	2,414	0.1783%
2020	135	1,929	0.1515%
2021	159	1,654	0.1353%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Katherine

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

What names are variants of Katherine?

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

Name	Meaning	Origin
Cait	Pure	Greek
Caitlin	Pure	Greek
Caitlinn	Pure	Greek
Caitrin	Pure	Greek
Caitrine	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
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
Cathaleen	Pure	Irish
Cathaline	Pure	Irish
Catharin	Pure	Greek
Catharina	Pure	Greek
Catharine	Pure	Greek
Catharyna	Pure	Greek
Catharyne	Pure	Greek
Cathee	Pure	Greek
Cathelina	Pure	Greek
Catherina	Pure	Greek

Catherine	Pure	Greek
Catheryn	Pure	Greek
Cathie	Pure	Greek
Cathirin	Pure	Greek
Cathiryn	Pure	Greek
Cathleen	Pure	Greek
Cathline	Pure	Greek
Cathlyne	Pure	Greek
Cathrine	Pure	Greek
Cathrinn	Pure	Greek
Cathryn	Pure	Greek
Cathrynn	Pure	Greek
Cathy	Pure	Greek
Cathye	Pure	Greek
Cati	Pure	Greek

Catie	Pure	Greek
Catina	Pure	Latin
Catlaina	Pure	Greek
Catreen	Pure	Greek
Catreina	Pure	Greek
Catrin	Pure	Greek
Catrina	Pure	Greek
Catrine	Pure	Greek
Catriona	Pure	Gaelic
Catrionagh	Pure	Greek
Catryna	Pure	Greek
Caty	Pure	Greek
Cay	Pure	Greek
Caye	Pure	Greek
Ekaterina	Pure	Greek

Kaatje	Pure	Greek
Kait	Pure	Greek
Kaitee	Pure	Greek
Kaitie	Pure	Greek
Kaitlin	Pure	Irish
Kaitlinn	Pure	Irish
Kaitlyn	Pure	Irish
Kaitrin	Pure	Greek
Kaitrine	Pure	Greek
Kaitrinn	Pure	Greek
Kaitrinna	Pure	Greek
Kaitriona	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
Kas	Pure	Greek
Kasia	Pure	Greek
Kasienka	Pure	Greek
Kasja	Pure	Greek
Kaska	Pure	Greek
Kass	Pure	Greek
Kassi	Man's defender, warrior; pure	Greek
Kassia		Polish

Kassie		American
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
Katell	Pure	Greek
Katelle	Pure	Greek
Katena	Pure	Greek
Katenka	Pure	Greek

Katerina	Pure	Greek
Katey	Pure	Greek
Katha	Pure	Irish
Katharine	Pure	Greek
Katharyn	Pure	Greek
Kathee	Pure	Greek
Kathelina	Pure	Irish
Katheline	Pure	Irish
Katherin	Pure	Greek
Katherina	Pure	Greek
Katheryn	Pure	Greek
Katheryne	Pure	Greek
Kathi	Pure	Greek
Kathie	Pure	Greek
Kathileen	Pure	Greek

Kathirin	Pure	Greek
Kathiryn	Pure	Greek
Kathirynn	Pure	Greek
Kathleen	An Irish equivalent of Catherine.	Irish
Kathlene	Pure	Irish
Kathleyn	Pure	Irish
Kathline	Pure	Irish
Kathlyne	Pure	Greek
Kathrene	Pure	Greek
Kathrina	Pure	Greek
Kathrine	Pure	Greek
Kathrinna	Pure	Greek
Kathryn	Pure	Greek
Kathryne	Pure	Greek
Kathrynn	Pure	Greek

Kathy	Short form of Katherine	English
Kathyrine	Pure	Greek
Kati	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
Katline	Pure	Irish
Katoushka	Pure	Greek
Katouska	Pure	Greek
Katrena	Pure	Greek

Katria	Pure	Greek
Katriana	Pure	Greek
Katriane	Pure	Greek
Katrien	Pure	Greek
Katrina	A German form of Catherine.	Greek
Katrine	Pure	Greek
Katriona	Pure	Greek
Katrionagh	Pure	Greek
Katrya	Pure	Greek
Katryna	Pure	Greek
Katushka	Pure	Greek
Katy	Pure	Greek
Katya	Pure	Greek
Kay	A short form of Kate or Catherine.
Kaye	Pure	Greek

Kaylin		American
Kit	Pure; follower of Christ	Latin
Kittey	Pure	Greek
Kitti	Pure	Greek
Kittie	Pure	Greek
Kitty	A playful form of Catherine.	Greek
Rina	Beloved; peace; pure; queen; melody; joyful	Latin
Trina	Triple	Scandinavian
Trinchen	Pure	Greek
Trine	Pure	Scandinavian
Trinette	Pure	Scandinavian
Yekaterin	Pure	Greek
Yekaterina		Russian

What names sound like Katherine?

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

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Caterine	Pure	Greek
Catherin	Pure	Greek

Catherinn	Pure	Greek
Katharyne	Pure	Greek
Katherynn	Pure	Greek

What names are similar to Katherine?

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

Name	Meaning	Origin
Kasha
Katelyn	Pure	Irish
Kayla	Pure	English

Lists With Katherine

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

Siblings of Katherine

Mamas with kids named Katherine also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Christopher	Bearing Christ	English
Karis	Grace	Greek
Lily	Lily flower	English
Linnea	Lime or linden tree	Scandinavian
Michael	Who is Like God?	Hebrew
Megan	Pearl	Welsh
Rebecca	To join	Hebrew
Audrey	Noble strength	English
Samuel	Name of God	Hebrew

John	God is gracious	Hebrew
Lane	Pathway	English
Kinleigh	Kings meadow.	English
Karleigh	Free man	Latin
Kennedy	Helmeted head	Irish
Autumn	Season of harvest	English
Addi	Noble; noble kind	German

Share Your Thoughts

8 Comments

Anna+Obert Mar 8 at 1:42 pm

We thought Katherine was a beautiful name that was still fun but could be elegant as well.

Reply
Katherine Feb 12 at 6:04 pm

It’s a family name; my daughter is Katherine III, and I love the versatility. It sounds refined and classy, but the nicknames open up a whole realm of possibility. I think names should be able to grow and stretch with a person. I’ve enjoyed being a Katherine, and I wanted my daughter to have the same experience.

Reply
Katherine Sep 21 at 6:48 am

The name Katherine means pure,and I really love my name

Reply
Tiffany Feb 19 at 1:06 pm

I love that Katherine is a very sophisticated and feminine name. I also like that there are plenty of nicknames that she can choose from if she wants, but we will probably just call her Katherine.

I don’t like that there are so many spellings of the name, and it has so many letters. She will have to spell out her first and last name for most of her life.

During most of my pregnancy, I imagined her with dark hair, even though I felt like it was unlikely because my husband has light hair, and mine was light when I was little. I picture Katherine to be a name for someone with dark hair, and thought that I would probably change it if she was born with light hair. But she looks a lot like I envisioned (just more beautiful), and Katherine stuck.

Reply
Kate Nov 25 at 7:47 am

We love old names and this one is a classic

Reply
Alex Jun 8 at 9:14 pm

I have always loved the name Katherine. I love it’s meaning (it means “pure”, and the nickname “Kate” has always sounded strong and feminine to me. Our sweet girl’s middle name is Faith because it’s my prayer that my daughter will have a pure faith in the Lord all her life.

Reply
Karen Henshaw Apr 13 at 1:10 pm

Our Katherine Gianna is named after two strong women who are Roman Catholic Saints. Katharine Drexel was a pioneer in providing quality education to minorities and Gianna Beretta Molla was a pediatrician and home birth attendant who was also a dedicated wife and mother of four. She took a risk to save the life of her fourth child and ultimately lost her life to an infection from the surgery that saved her unborn/newborn daughter’s life. Super role models. I prefer the French spelling of Katherine to Katharine.

Reply
Kimberly Apr 11 at 2:19 pm

Katherine Elizabeth because I loved that she had so many cute nicknames she could pick from these two names.

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Katherine