Katharina Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Katharina originates from the Greek 'Aikaterine', meaning 'pure'. It evolved through various languages, including Latin and German. The name is characterized by its association with purity and strength. Although it has no direct biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the Middle Ages through the veneration of saints. Today, it is perceived as a classic and elegant name, with several common variants.
The name Katharina is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Katharina has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Katharina' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3874th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7607th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3294th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3457th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2937th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4155th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6287th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Katharina' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Katharina"
Pronunciation
/kæθəˈriːnə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Katharina is derived from the Greek name 'Aikaterine', which is believed to be derived from the word 'katharos', meaning 'pure'.
Meaning
pure
Language Evolution
Aikaterine (Greek), Catherine (Latin/French), Katharina (German)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Variants & Derivatives
Catherine, Katherine, Catarina, Katya
Modern Popularity & Image
Katharina is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with strength and purity.
Famous People
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Katharina von Bora (wife of Martin Luther), Katharina Witt (German figure skater)
Explore More Katharina Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Katharina"
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 of "Katharina"
"Katharina" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3874th of 9107 | 100 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7607th of 9204 | 12 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3294th of 12526 | 247 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3457th of 19264 | 302 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2937th of 27321 | 585 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4155th of 35406 | 532 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6287th of 30306 | 232 |
Regional Popularity of "Katharina" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Katharina" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
100.00% 2430th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
82.26% 2865th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
88.39% 3257th/3685 |
61.39% 2747th/4475 |
65.98% 3427th/5194 |
48.17% 3043rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.45% 3948th/5164 |
66.44% 4859th/7313 |
48.13% 3592nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
- | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Katharina"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Katharina" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.