"pure"
Origin: Greek
Language: English
Katherine
Pronunciation: [ k-ATH-er-ihn ]
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Royalty, saints, and empresses — the name of greatness
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Meaning & Origin
"each of the two"
Origin: Greek
Language: Greek
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The Story of Katherine
Katherine derives from the Greek 'Aikaterine,' of uncertain etymology — most likely from 'katharos' meaning pure. It became widespread in Europe through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr of legendary wisdom and courage. The name was carried across the world by royal figures including Catherine of Aragon, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Catherine of Siena, who is a Doctor of the Church.
Katherine has maintained consistent popularity for centuries and remains a top-100 US name. Unlike many classics, it hasn't experienced dramatic peaks and valleys — it's simply always been beloved, offering an extraordinary range of nickname options from Kate to Kat to Kit.
Katherine/Catherine has been borne by more queens, saints, and powerful women than almost any other name in history. Catherine the Great ruled Russia for 34 years; Catherine of Siena advised popes; Catherine Middleton became Princess of Wales. The name has over 50 known spelling variants across languages.
Historical Record
Katherine first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 476,070 babies have been named Katherine in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Katherine is past its peak , currently ranked #175 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Six of Henry VIII's connections to the court involved the name Catherine/Katherine
- Catherine the Great reigned Russia for 34 years (1762-1796), longer than any other female ruler
- The name has over 50 known spelling variants across different languages and cultures
Katherine in Other Languages
Greek
Αικατερίνη
Arabic
كاثرين
French
Catherine
German
Katharina
Italian
Caterina
Russian
Екатерина (Yekaterina)
Spanish
Catalina
Popularity Over Time
#175
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1991
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Katherine
C
Catherine, Princess of Wales
Royalty
1982
Princess of Wales and future Queen Consort, wife of Prince William
K
Katharine Hepburn
Actor
1907
Four-time Academy Award-winning American actress and Hollywood legend
C
Catherine the Great
Royalty
1729
Empress of Russia and longest-ruling female leader of Russia, who modernized the empire (1762-1796)
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Compare Katherine with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #175
- Total SSA Count
- 1,740
- Cultural Origins
- English American Greek Russian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Kate
Katie
Kathy
Kat
Kit
Kay
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Katherine
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Katherine is also used as a boy name, ranked #9313.
View Katherine as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (English)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Katherine
What does the name Katherine mean?
"pure" (from Greek). "each of the two" (from Greek). Katherine derives from the Greek 'Aikaterine,' of uncertain etymology — most likely from 'katharos' meaning pure. It became widespread in Europe through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr of legendary wisdom and courage. The name was carried across the world by royal figures including Catherine of Aragon, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Catherine of Siena, who is a Doctor of the Church.
What is the origin of the name Katherine?
Katherine has Greek, English, American, and Russian origins. In Greek, it means "pure". In Greek, it means "each of the two".
Is Katherine a boy or girl name?
Katherine is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #175. As a boy name, it is ranked #9313. Katherine is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Katherine?
Katherine is pronounced k-ATH-er-ihn.
How popular is the name Katherine?
Katherine is currently ranked #175 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Katherine?
Common nicknames for Katherine include Kate, Katie, Kathy, Kat, Kit, and Kay.
What are good middle names for Katherine?
Popular middle name pairings include Katherine Elizabeth, Katherine Anne, Katherine Grace, Katherine Marie, Katherine Louise, Katherine Rose, and Katherine Jane.
What are good sibling names for Katherine?
Names that pair well with Katherine as siblings include William, Henry, Charlotte, Edward, Margaret, James, and Eleanor.
How many syllables does Katherine have?
Katherine has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Katherine a common or rare name?
Katherine is a popular name, ranked #175 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Katherine?
About the Name Katherine
Katherine is a girl name with English, American, Greek, and Russian origins . The name means "pure" in Greek .
Is Katherine a boy or girl name? Katherine is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #175 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #9,313. Katherine is more commonly used as a girl name.
Katherine is currently ranked #175 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Katherine has 3 syllables and is pronounced k-ATH-er-ihn, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Katherine include Kate, Katie, Kathy, Kat, Kit, and Kay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Katherine include Kathryn, Kathleen, Kathy, Kathlyn, Katheryn . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis