Katherine

Q: What is the origin of Katherine?

Katherine 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 Katherine?

According to the latest SSA data, Katherine 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 Katherine a boy name?

Katherine 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"

Variant of Catherine, ultimately associated with purity, it has numerous spellings and has been borne by saints, queens, and scholars.

Themes:puregreekvariantclassic

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

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

Popularity History of Katherine

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

Katherine 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

Katherine Nicknames

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

15 ideas

Kate

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Kath

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Kathy

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Kay

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Kitty

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Kat

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kath

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katy

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rine

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kie

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iney

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they

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Similar Names to Katherine

male

Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

#44

|Latin

male

Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

#68

|Greek

male

Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27

|Greek

male

Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

#107

|Latin

male

Alex

“Defender”

#205

|Greek

male

Allen

“Handsome; Harmonious”

#573

|Celtic

male

Angel

“Messenger”

#63

|Greek

male

Alvin

“Noble Friend”

#791

|English

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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

#184

|Spanish

male

Andre

“Manly”

#350

|French

Baby Name Lists That Include Katherine

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

22 linked lists

Famous Katherines

K
Katherine Hepburn
American actress and four-time Academy Award winner
C
Catherine the Great
German-born Empress of Russia in the 18th century

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Katherine mean?

Katherine means "Pure". Variant of Catherine, ultimately associated with purity, it has numerous spellings and has been borne by saints, queens,

What is the origin of Katherine?

Katherine 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 Katherine?

According to the latest SSA data, Katherine 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 Katherine a boy name?

Katherine 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 Katherine?

Popular nicknames for Katherine include Kate, Kath, Kathy, Kay, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Katherine?

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

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, English

Syllables3

Length9 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withK

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Andreas Alexzander Alexandro Andrea Alexandre

Sisters

Agnes Angeline Asia Angelia Alexus

Explore More Boy Names Like Katherine

Katherine 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.

Katherine appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Classic Greek Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Traditional English Names and Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Katherine pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Katherine 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.