Katherine: Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity

Pronunciation: ka-hthe-hre-e-ne
Origin: Greece
gender-female

Emmy Samtani

Emmy Samtani

Emmy is the founder of Kiindred and mother to 3 little ones. Over the last 4 years, she has worked with some of the most credible experts in the parenting space and is a keen contributor on all things parenthood.
Updated on Aug 14, 2024 · 2 mins read
Region Origin: Southern Europe
Meaning: Pure

Katherine is a girl's name originating from Greek, meaning "pure". The name draws its power from a saint martyred in Alexandria, known in Greek as Aikaterine, and receives its definition from the Greek word katharos. This regal name has been in use since the third century and has evolved into many forms in different languages and cultures, such as Katarina, Kathleen, and Kaitlin. The name Katherine has been associated with several notable figures in literature and history, including Kate in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Throughout its history, Katherine has been a popular name in English-speaking countries, with its spelling evolving from Katerina to Katharina to reflect its association with the Greek word katharos. Today, both Katherine and Catherine remain widely used, with Katherine being more popular in the United States since 1973.

Katherine Name Popularity Data

chat-overall Katherine is currently #471 in the popularity of the name rankings.
gender-female Girl: Katherine is currently #264 on Kiindred Girl Names
gender-male Overall Unique: Katherine is currently #465 on Kiindred Unique Names
gender-female Girl Unique: Katherine is currently #264 on Kiindred Girl Unique Names

Popularity Trend Chart

Parents Who Like the Name Katherine Also Like:

Parents who like the name Katherine often have similar name preferences and tend to choose popular choices like:

Famous People Named Katherine

This section lists notable individuals and public figures named Katherine, showcasing their achievements and contributions in various fields.

  • Katherine Heigl: Katherine Heigl is an American actress and former fashion model known for her roles in "Grey's Anatomy," "Knocked Up," and "27 Dresses."
  • Katherine Johnson: Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. She passed away in 2020.
  • Katherine Mansfield: Katherine Mansfield was a prominent New Zealand modernist short story writer known for works like "The Garden Party" and "Bliss." She passed away in 1923.
  • Katherine Waterston: Katherine Waterston is an American actress known for her roles in "Inherent Vice," "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," and "Alien
  • Katy Perry (born 1984): Influential singer-songwriter known for her pop-rock hits like "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold." She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2013 and advocates for LGBT rights and mental health awareness.
  • Katherine Langford (born 1996): Australian actress known for her roles in "13 Reasons Why" and "Love, Simon." She has also appeared in films like "Spontaneous" and "Cursed."
  • Katherine McNamara (born 1995): American actress known for her roles in "Shadowhunters" and "Walker

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