Katherine
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
651,062 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1990 Peak Popularity Year
11,659 Peak Births

Katherine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

The name Katherine originates from the Greek name Aikaterine, which means 'pure.' It has evolved through various languages, including Latin and Old French, and has been used in English since the Middle Ages. The name is associated with traits of elegance and strength, and while there is no direct biblical relevance, it has a rich historical background. Katherine remains a popular name, with several common variants and notable bearers.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Katherine"

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Pronunciation

/ˈkæθərɪn/

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Origin

Greek

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Etymology

The name Katherine is derived from the Greek name 'Aikaterine,' which is believed to be related to the Greek word 'katharos,' meaning 'pure.'

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Meaning

pure

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Language Evolution

Aikaterine (Greek), Catherine (Latin), Katherine (Old French), Katherine (Middle English)

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Historical Usage

Katherine gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in England and France, due to the influence of saints and royalty bearing the name.

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Variants & Derivatives

Catherine, Kathryn, Kitty, Kate, Kathy

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Modern Popularity & Image

Katherine remains a popular name today, often associated with elegance and strength, and is viewed positively in many cultures.

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Famous People

Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Johnson, Kate Middleton, Katherine Langford

📊 Katherine Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Gradually Declining

Explore More Katherine Name Visualizations

✨ Katherine Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 11,659 peak births in 1990

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Alaska

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Katherine" - Complete Guide (41 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Katherine". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 41 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Katherine" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Katherine"

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 "Katherine"

"Katherine" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 2027th of 7545 249
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 1992nd of 6773 248
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 2078th of 7552 287
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 2166th of 10718 302
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 1984th of 16616 557
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 7113th of 24088 155
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 17702nd of 23106 16
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 54th of 9107 84,119
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 98th of 9204 51,229
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 72nd of 12526 114,120
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 62nd of 19264 85,711
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 29th of 27321 163,386
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 36th of 35406 102,023
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 112th of 30306 31,119

Regional Popularity of "Katherine" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- 67.94%
1651st/2430
- -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
57.51%
1689th/2937
63.82%
2223rd/3483
- 60.78%
2458th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- 50.15%
2244th/4475
34.71%
1803rd/5194
28.87%
1824th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - 50.91%
3723rd/7313
-
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Katherine" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
4.59%
65th/1416
3.48%
48th/1379
2.49%
59th/2366
4.12%
47th/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
6.21%
96th/1546
5.59%
87th/1556
4.12%
97th/2353
5.11%
79th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
3.41%
76th/2227
3.21%
78th/2430
2.73%
78th/2853
1.80%
50th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
1.94%
57th/2937
1.92%
67th/3483
1.79%
63rd/3518
1.38%
56th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
0.73%
27th/3685
0.54%
24th/4475
0.58%
30th/5194
0.49%
31st/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
0.98%
45th/4582
0.60%
31st/5164
0.48%
35th/7313
0.59%
44th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
3.61%
144th/3984
2.67%
120th/4487
1.35%
92nd/6822
1.86%
117th/6276

State-by-State Popularity of "Katherine"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Katherine" 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.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Katherine" in the United States

The name Katherine is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Katherine has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, too rising for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too rising for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. Across generations, 'Katherine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2027th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1992nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2078th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2166th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1984th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7113th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 17702nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 54th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 98th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 72nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 62nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 29th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 36th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 112th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Katherine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Katherine name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Katherine,