Katherine

Katherine comes from the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine), though its origin is uncertain: it may come from an earlier Greek name Ἑκατερινη (Hekaterine), from ἑκάτερος (hekateros) meaning “each of the two,” from the goddess Hecate, from Greek αἰκία (aikia) meaning “torture,” or from a Coptic name meaning “my consecration of your name.” In the early Christian era it was linked with Greek καθαρός (katharos), meaning “pure,” and the Latin form changed from Katerina to Katharina accordingly. The name was borne by a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel; first venerated in Syria, it was brought to Western Europe by returning crusaders. It has been common in England since the 12th century in many spellings, with Katherine and Catherine standard by the later Middle Ages, and both remain in regular use in the English-speaking world. In the United States, Katherine has been more popular since 1973. Notable bearers include Catherine of Siena, Catherine de' Medici, three wives of Henry VIII including Catherine of Aragon, and two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.

Katherine moved from #175 to #186 for girls between 2024 and 2025. Its highest annual birth count came in 1990, with 11,625 births.