Catherine

Q: What is the origin of Catherine?

Catherine is of Greek origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Catherine?

According to the latest SSA data, Catherine is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Catherine a boy name?

Catherine is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Pure"

From Greek Aikaterine with debated origins but long associated with purity, it spread through saints and royal lineages across Europe.

Themes:puregreeksaintclassic

Biblical Royal Regal Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Catherine

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Catherine did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Catherine Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Catherine.

14 ideas

Cat

Nickname

Cath

Nickname

Cathy

Nickname

Kay

Nickname

Kitty

Nickname

Kate

Nickname

caty

Nickname

cath

Nickname

cie

Nickname

rine

Nickname

iney

Nickname

Similar Names to Catherine

male

Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

#44

|Latin

male

Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

#68

|Greek

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27

|Greek

male

Aaron

AIR-un

“Exalted; Mountain of Strength”

#79

|Hebrew

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Adam

AD-um

“Human, Earth”

#100

|Hebrew

male

Arthur

AR-ther

“Bear Man”

#105

|Celtic

male

Albert

AL-bert

“Noble Bright”

#606

|Germanic

male

Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

#107

|Latin

male

Alex

“Defender”

#205

|Greek

male

Allen

“Handsome; Harmonious”

#573

|Celtic

Baby Name Lists That Include Catherine

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Catherine, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

20 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Catherine mean?

Catherine means "Pure". From Greek Aikaterine with debated origins but long associated with purity, it spread through saints and royal lineages

What is the origin of Catherine?

Catherine is of Greek origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Catherine?

According to the latest SSA data, Catherine is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Catherine a boy name?

Catherine is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Catherine?

Popular nicknames for Catherine include Cat, Cath, Cathy, Kay, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Catherine?

There are many names similar to Catherine in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, French, English

Syllables3

Length9 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withC

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Andreas Alexzander Alexandro Andrea Alexandre

Sisters

Agnes Angeline Asia Angelia Alexus

Explore More Boy Names Like Catherine

Catherine has Greek roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Greek baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Catherine appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Biblical Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Royal Baby Names and Classic Greek Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Catherine pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Catherine beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.