"pure"
Katrina
Pronunciation: [ k-uhtr-EEN-uh ]
A pure and classic European name
Meaning & Origin
Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated with Hurricane Katrina (2005), which killed over 1,800 people and devastated New Orleans; this caused a documented drop of over 70% in US usage after 2005
The Story of Katrina
Katrina is a German and Scandinavian diminutive of Katharina, which traces back through Latin to the Greek name Aikaterine — possibly from 'katharos' meaning pure. The name traveled through the Roman Catholic Church via Saint Catherine of Alexandria and became Katharina in German-speaking Europe, spawning Katrina as the beloved shorter form in northern regions.
Katrina was a well-liked name in the United States through the 1980s-1990s. Its use plummeted sharply after August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast — name databases confirm a drop of over 70% in US usage between 2004 and 2006.
In German and Scandinavian countries, Katrina is associated with Saint Katarina of Sweden (1331-1381). In Eastern Europe, the name exists as Kateryna (Ukraine) and Ekaterina (Russia), where it remains highly honored.
Fun Facts
- Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with 'Love Shine a Light'
- Baby name databases show Katrina usage dropped over 70% in the US from 2004 to 2006 following the hurricane
Katrina in Other Languages
Famous People Named Katrina
Katrina Kaif
Actor
1983
British-Indian Bollywood actress and one of the highest-paid stars in Indian cinema
Katrina (Katrina Leskanich)
Musician
1960
American-British singer, lead vocalist of Katrina and the Waves, Eurovision winners in 1997
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #1,642
- Total SSA Count
- 126
- Cultural Origins
- German Scandinavian Eastern European American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Katrina is also used as a boy name, ranked #10395.
View Katrina as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Katrina
What does the name Katrina mean?
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Is Katrina a boy or girl name?
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About the Name Katrina
Katrina is a girl name with German, Scandinavian, Eastern European, and American origins . The name means "pure" in Greek katharos via Latin Katharina .
Is Katrina a boy or girl name? Katrina is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,642 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #10,395. Katrina is more commonly used as a girl name.
Katrina is currently ranked #1,642 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Katrina has 3 syllables and is pronounced k-uhtr-EEN-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Katrina include Kat, Katy, Trina, Rina, and Kati. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.