Girl · 23rd of 9,107
Catherine
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
668,624
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1956
Peak Popularity Year
12,076
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Catherine stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
The name Catherine originates from the Greek 'Aikaterine', meaning 'pure'. It has evolved through various languages, including Italian and French, before becoming prominent in English. The name is associated with traits of purity and grace. Although it does not have a biblical connection, it gained historical significance through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈkæθ.ə.rɪn/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Catherine is derived from the Greek name 'Aikaterine', which is believed to be related to the Greek word 'katharos', meaning 'pure'.
Meaning
pure
Language Evolution
Aikaterine (Greek), Caterina (Italian), Catherine (French), Catarina (Portuguese), Katherine (English)
Historical Usage
The name Catherine gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe, due to the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Variants & Derivatives
Katherine, Catriona, Kitty, Kate, Cathy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Catherine is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with sophistication and grace.
Famous People
Catherine the Great, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge)
Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Declining
25-Year Trend:
Gradually Declining
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 12,076 peak births in 1956
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in District of Columbia
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 41 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Cahterine
Catharine
Catheline
Catheren
Catherene
Catherin
Catherline
Cathern
Catherne
Catheryn
Catheryne
Cathirine
Cathrina
Cathrine
Cathryn
Cathyrn
Chatherine
Katharine
Katharyn
Katharyne
Katheine
Katheline
Katheren
Katherene
Katherin
Katherine
Katherinne
Katherleen
Katherlene
Katherline
Kathern
Katheryn
Katheryne
Kathrine
Kathryn
Kathryne
Kathrynne
Kathyrine
Kathyrn
Kathyrne
Ktherine
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 13 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1505th of 7545 | 383 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1416th of 6773 | 425 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1710th of 7552 | 398 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2276th of 10718 | 280 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3539th of 16616 | 241 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 12556th of 24088 | 51 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 23rd of 9107 | 151,443 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 47th of 9204 | 93,662 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 37th of 12526 | 184,489 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 68th of 19264 | 80,716 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 72nd of 27321 | 68,774 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 117th of 35406 | 45,503 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 225th of 30306 | 16,717 |