Katherine
Katherine is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “pure.” It ranked #186 in the United States in 2025. A spelling of Catherine, from the Greek Aikaterine.
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how do you pronounce Katherine?
KATH-rin
where does the name Katherine come from?
A spelling of Catherine, from the Greek Aikaterine, whose original meaning is debated; proposals include the Greek hekateros, each of the two, and the name of the goddess Hecate. In early Christian times it was linked with the Greek katharos, pure, which gave the name its th, and the initial K is a return to the Greek.
The name's original meaning is debated, but it has been linked with the Greek katharos, pure, since early Christian times, and it spread across Europe with the cult of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
how popular is this name?
Katherine has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #25 in 1991, and ranked #186 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #186 |
| 2024 | #175 |
| 2023 | #170 |
| 2022 | #166 |
| 2021 | #157 |
| 2020 | #136 |
| 2019 | #120 |
| 2018 | #112 |
| 2017 | #105 |
| 2016 | #91 |
| 2010 | #70 |
| 2000 | #33 |
| 1991 | #25 |
| 1990 | #26 |
| 1980 | #35 |
| 1970 | #67 |
| 1960 | #81 |
| 1950 | #58 |
| 1940 | #91 |
| 1930 | #85 |
| 1920 | #45 |
| 1910 | #57 |
| 1900 | #65 |
| 1890 | #59 |
| 1880 | #53 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Katherine fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Katherine
The name belonged to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, by tradition a martyr of the early fourth century, and Behind the Name records it as common in England since the twelfth century. In the United States Katherine has been in the top 1,000 every year since 1880; it peaked at number 25 in 1991 and ranked 186th in 2025.
what are the nicknames and variants of Katherine?
who are famous people named Katherine?
- Katherine Johnson (mathematician)
- Katherine Mansfield (author)
- Katherine Heigl (actress)
what names are similar to Katherine?
what names go well with Katherine?
Sibling names that share Katherine's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Katherine
What does the name Katherine mean?
Katherine means “pure”.
What is the origin of the name Katherine?
Katherine comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Catherine, Katharine, Kathryn and Kathleen.
How popular is the name Katherine?
Katherine ranked #186 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1991, at #25, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Katherine a boy or girl name?
Katherine is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Katherine?
Katherine is pronounced KATH-rin, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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