The nameCatherine
Catherine is a girl's name of Greek origin, later linked to the word for "pure". The name of saints, empresses and queens, it is a great classic.
- Girl's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Catherine comes from the Greek Aikaterinē, of uncertain origin. It was later linked to katharos, "pure", which explains the spelling Katharine.
Origin
Greek. Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr of the 4th century, was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.
History
Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Parr, Catherine the Great of Russia and Catherine, Princess of Wales, bore it. It reached the American top 20. Kate, Katie, Cathy and Kitty are its short forms.
Did you know?
- Three of Henry VIII's six wives were called Catherine: Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.
- Catherine the Great bought Diderot's library and let him keep using it for the rest of his life.
Famous people named Catherine
- Saint Catherine of Siena
- Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia
- Catherine, Princess of Wales
- Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
Popularity of the name Catherine
Catherine in the United States
Catherine was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 109,057 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named Catherine. Its rise began around 1888, and it peaked in 1956. Half of all babies named Catherine in the United States were born before 1952, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,006 births a year on average, against 1,575 in the five years before.
Catherine in the United Kingdom
Catherine was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 4,354 births over the decade, 45% of all recorded babies named Catherine. Half of all babies named Catherine in the United Kingdom were born before 2003. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 100 births a year on average, against 156 in the five years before.
Catherine in Ireland
Catherine in France
Catherine in Belgium
Catherine in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Catherine
Names from the same generation as Catherine, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Catherine? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Catherine with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Catherine side by side with the name of your choice.
Catherine in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Catherine mean?
Catherine comes from the Greek Aikaterinē, of uncertain origin. It was later linked to katharos, "pure", which explains the spelling Katharine.
What is the origin of the name Catherine?
Greek. Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr of the 4th century, was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.
Is Catherine a girl's or a boy's name?
Catherine is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Catherine?
In 2024, Catherine was the 321st most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 955 births.
What are the variants of the name Catherine?
Variants and related names of Catherine include Caitlin, Carine, Carinne, Catalina, Cathie, Cathy, Catriona and Kaija.
What are good sibling names for Catherine?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Angela, Katherine, Alexandra and Melissa for a sister, Stephen, Steven, Gregory and Pedro for a brother.
Who are famous people named Catherine?
Saint Catherine of Siena; Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress.