Fun Facts About the Name Catherine
- A favorite across generations: Catherine stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- A favorite of earlier generations: Catherine appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 121 years. Its last run lasted 3 consecutive years, from 1999 through 2001.
- More than 669 thousand babies named Catherine: U.S. records list 669,596 babies given the name Catherine from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,822 boys received the name Catherine - about 1 boy for every 367 girls.
What Does the Name Catherine Mean?
Catherine is the French-derived English form of the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterinē). Its established meaning is traditionally given as pure, but that sense comes from a later association with the Greek adjective καθαρός (katharos), meaning pure, rather than from a securely known original meaning. The older Greek name is of uncertain etymology. One common suggestion links it to Ἑκάτη (Hekatē), the goddess Hecate, while another derives it from ἑκάτερος (hekateros), meaning each of the two. Neither explanation is certain. The Latin form Catharina and the French form Catherine transmitted the name into English, and the th spelling reflects the later association with katharos.
Catherine Name History & Origins
The name goes back to the Greek Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterinē). It is closely associated with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, traditionally a fourth-century martyr venerated in the eastern and western churches; her historicity is disputed. In Latin the name appears as Catharina, and in Old French as Catherine. English adopted Catherine from French, while Katherine is another English form from the same Greek source. The initial C and the th spelling came through Latin and French. Local forms include Caterina in Italian, Catalina in Spanish, Katharina in German, and Ekaterina in Russian. In Russia, Catherine I and Catherine the Great were empresses; in France, Catherine de' Medici was queen consort and later regent; in Italy, Catherine of Siena was a Dominican mystic and Doctor of the Church. These historical bearers show the name's use across Europe, not a single source of its popularity.
How Popular is the Name Catherine?
Catherine ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1997, then returned in 1999 and remained through 2001.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #314 | 972 | 0.0605% |
| 2024 | #320 | 955 | 0.0592% |
| 2023 | #330 | 933 | 0.0582% |
| 2022 | #328 | 981 | 0.0599% |
| 2021 | #323 | 1,004 | 0.0612% |
| 2020 | #267 | 1,155 | 0.0715% |
| 2019 | #241 | 1,312 | 0.0782% |
| 2018 | #205 | 1,506 | 0.0886% |
| 2017 | #198 | 1,584 | 0.0918% |
| 2016 | #196 | 1,668 | 0.0942% |
| 2015 | #177 | 1,807 | 0.1013% |
| 2014 | #170 | 1,944 | 0.1089% |
| 2013 | #170 | 1,868 | 0.1065% |
| 2012 | #165 | 1,913 | 0.1086% |
| 2011 | #161 | 1,937 | 0.1101% |
| 2010 | #193 | 1,612 | 0.0907% |
| 2009 | #176 | 1,891 | 0.1029% |
| 2008 | #148 | 2,323 | 0.1229% |
| 2007 | #142 | 2,472 | 0.1286% |
| 2006 | #121 | 2,793 | 0.1469% |
| 2005 | #109 | 2,985 | 0.1616% |
| 2004 | #103 | 3,181 | 0.1732% |
| 2003 | #106 | 3,231 | 0.1768% |
| 2002 | #101 | 3,292 | 0.1832% |
| 2001 | #81 | 3,731 | 0.2072% |
| 2000 | #81 | 3,802 | 0.2094% |
| 1999 | #98 | 3,401 | 0.1917% |
| 1998 | #101 | 3,348 | 0.1895% |
| 1997 | #96 | 3,591 | 0.2063% |
| 1996 | #95 | 3,739 | 0.2133% |
| 1995 | #90 | 3,860 | 0.2195% |
| 1994 | #84 | 4,102 | 0.2297% |
| 1993 | #75 | 4,475 | 0.2474% |
| 1992 | #78 | 4,536 | 0.2460% |
| 1991 | #72 | 4,814 | 0.2567% |
| 1990 | #71 | 4,893 | 0.2577% |
| 1989 | #67 | 4,559 | 0.2473% |
| 1988 | #69 | 4,504 | 0.2529% |
| 1987 | #74 | 4,108 | 0.2363% |
| 1986 | #67 | 4,242 | 0.2473% |
| 1985 | #65 | 4,297 | 0.2497% |
| 1984 | #69 | 4,240 | 0.2518% |
| 1983 | #66 | 4,251 | 0.2545% |
| 1982 | #73 | 4,098 | 0.2420% |
| 1981 | #73 | 4,056 | 0.2432% |
| 1980 | #77 | 4,080 | 0.2457% |
| 1979 | #78 | 3,878 | 0.2416% |
| 1978 | #72 | 3,959 | 0.2584% |
| 1977 | #75 | 3,841 | 0.2505% |
| 1976 | #72 | 3,779 | 0.2579% |
| 1975 | #73 | 3,935 | 0.2699% |
| 1974 | #73 | 4,183 | 0.2850% |
| 1973 | #67 | 4,262 | 0.2923% |
| 1972 | #65 | 4,685 | 0.3080% |
| 1971 | #65 | 5,336 | 0.3207% |
| 1970 | #59 | 6,006 | 0.3436% |
| 1969 | #58 | 6,093 | 0.3612% |
| 1968 | #56 | 6,130 | 0.3737% |
| 1967 | #55 | 6,345 | 0.3843% |
| 1966 | #54 | 6,961 | 0.4114% |
| 1965 | #57 | 7,243 | 0.4103% |
| 1964 | #54 | 8,237 | 0.4347% |
| 1963 | #53 | 8,294 | 0.4303% |
| 1962 | #53 | 8,697 | 0.4422% |
| 1961 | #48 | 9,250 | 0.4583% |
| 1960 | #42 | 9,537 | 0.4717% |
| 1959 | #40 | 10,022 | 0.4953% |
| 1958 | #38 | 10,770 | 0.5354% |
| 1957 | #37 | 11,150 | 0.5453% |
| 1956 | #28 | 12,057 | 0.6005% |
| 1955 | #28 | 11,636 | 0.5951% |
| 1954 | #32 | 11,080 | 0.5706% |
| 1953 | #35 | 10,848 | 0.5766% |
| 1952 | #34 | 11,053 | 0.5961% |
| 1951 | #34 | 10,566 | 0.5867% |
| 1950 | #34 | 9,655 | 0.5636% |
| 1949 | #37 | 9,137 | 0.5341% |
| 1948 | #41 | 8,244 | 0.4855% |
| 1947 | #46 | 7,889 | 0.4450% |
| 1946 | #48 | 6,367 | 0.4052% |
| 1945 | #50 | 5,031 | 0.3849% |
| 1944 | #49 | 5,256 | 0.3960% |
| 1943 | #48 | 5,427 | 0.3890% |
| 1942 | #49 | 5,267 | 0.3899% |
| 1941 | #51 | 4,884 | 0.4043% |
| 1940 | #53 | 4,584 | 0.4009% |
| 1939 | #49 | 4,577 | 0.4174% |
| 1938 | #48 | 4,525 | 0.4101% |
| 1937 | #47 | 4,459 | 0.4191% |
| 1936 | #44 | 4,537 | 0.4361% |
| 1935 | #42 | 4,698 | 0.4480% |
| 1934 | #42 | 4,934 | 0.4725% |
| 1933 | #44 | 4,908 | 0.4869% |
| 1932 | #39 | 5,448 | 0.5105% |
| 1931 | #36 | 5,642 | 0.5299% |
| 1930 | #35 | 6,298 | 0.5594% |
| 1929 | #34 | 6,277 | 0.5622% |
| 1928 | #33 | 6,910 | 0.5991% |
| 1927 | #31 | 7,256 | 0.6085% |
| 1926 | #31 | 7,469 | 0.6301% |
| 1925 | #29 | 7,867 | 0.6462% |
| 1924 | #27 | 8,363 | 0.6696% |
| 1923 | #24 | 8,437 | 0.6994% |
| 1922 | #24 | 8,537 | 0.7108% |
| 1921 | #23 | 8,887 | 0.7207% |
| 1920 | #21 | 8,878 | 0.7409% |
| 1919 | #23 | 8,335 | 0.7375% |
| 1918 | #20 | 8,842 | 0.7638% |
| 1917 | #18 | 8,689 | 0.8036% |
| 1916 | #20 | 8,469 | 0.8109% |
| 1915 | #19 | 8,181 | 0.8315% |
| 1914 | #18 | 6,613 | 0.8683% |
| 1913 | #22 | 5,302 | 0.8489% |
| 1912 | #21 | 4,666 | 0.8360% |
| 1911 | #20 | 3,565 | 0.8522% |
| 1910 | #22 | 3,161 | 0.7972% |
| 1909 | #23 | 2,897 | 0.8343% |
| 1908 | #22 | 2,750 | 0.8226% |
| 1907 | #25 | 2,457 | 0.7713% |
| 1906 | #26 | 2,230 | 0.7552% |
| 1905 | #28 | 2,198 | 0.7537% |
| 1904 | #31 | 1,983 | 0.7201% |
| 1903 | #32 | 1,916 | 0.7314% |
| 1902 | #31 | 1,896 | 0.7180% |
| 1901 | #38 | 1,599 | 0.6681% |
| 1900 | #34 | 2,081 | 0.6942% |
| 1899 | #36 | 1,628 | 0.6986% |
| 1898 | #41 | 1,705 | 0.6589% |
| 1897 | #42 | 1,511 | 0.6452% |
| 1896 | #40 | 1,594 | 0.6700% |
| 1895 | #38 | 1,514 | 0.6480% |
| 1894 | #41 | 1,430 | 0.6415% |
| 1893 | #42 | 1,336 | 0.6275% |
| 1892 | #42 | 1,333 | 0.6278% |
| 1891 | #41 | 1,219 | 0.6572% |
| 1890 | #44 | 1,232 | 0.6471% |
| 1889 | #42 | 1,198 | 0.6717% |
| 1888 | #42 | 1,212 | 0.6785% |
| 1887 | #44 | 967 | 0.6624% |
| 1886 | #45 | 916 | 0.6338% |
| 1885 | #45 | 846 | 0.6358% |
| 1884 | #43 | 874 | 0.6774% |
| 1883 | #36 | 853 | 0.7594% |
| 1882 | #42 | 726 | 0.6732% |
| 1881 | #40 | 635 | 0.6906% |
| 1880 | #31 | 688 | 0.7561% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #12,668 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #8,418 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #6,589 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #6,605 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #6,620 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #6,700 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #5,235 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #5,180 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #5,287 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #6,029 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #2,790 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #1,738 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1988 | #3,228 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #2,343 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1986 | #2,300 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1985 | #3,624 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #2,544 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #2,688 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #4,653 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #3,051 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #2,849 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #3,030 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #2,490 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #2,214 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #2,843 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #3,275 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #2,207 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #2,523 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #3,010 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #2,380 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1970 | #2,002 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1969 | #1,990 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #2,042 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #1,715 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1966 | #1,617 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1965 | #1,490 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #1,661 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #1,488 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1962 | #1,810 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #1,885 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #1,662 | 24 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #1,811 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #1,646 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #1,514 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #1,836 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #1,575 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,899 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #1,908 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #1,353 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1951 | #1,525 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #1,754 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #2,040 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,524 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #2,178 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #1,962 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #1,589 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1944 | #1,750 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #1,434 | 24 | 0.0017% |
| 1942 | #1,363 | 26 | 0.0019% |
| 1941 | #1,645 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1940 | #1,689 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1939 | #1,647 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1938 | #1,527 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1937 | #1,411 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1936 | #1,298 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1935 | #1,665 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1934 | #1,561 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #1,600 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1932 | #1,258 | 29 | 0.0028% |
| 1931 | #1,103 | 38 | 0.0037% |
| 1930 | #1,261 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1929 | #1,530 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1928 | #1,098 | 41 | 0.0037% |
| 1927 | #1,232 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,356 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1925 | #1,815 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1924 | #1,420 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1923 | #1,649 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1922 | #1,656 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1921 | #1,993 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #1,830 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,889 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1918 | #2,421 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #1,915 | 16 | 0.0017% |
| 1916 | #1,465 | 23 | 0.0026% |
| 1915 | #1,890 | 15 | 0.0018% |
| 1914 | #1,350 | 20 | 0.0031% |
| 1913 | #1,597 | 12 | 0.0023% |
| 1912 | #1,540 | 11 | 0.0026% |
| 1911 | #1,050 | 11 | 0.0049% |
| 1910 | #1,055 | 10 | 0.0051% |
| 1909 | #1,170 | 7 | 0.0043% |
| 1908 | #893 | 10 | 0.0065% |
| 1907 | #1,116 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1906 | #1,026 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1904 | #820 | 9 | 0.0070% |
| 1901 | #1,077 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1900 | #1,348 | 5 | 0.0033% |
| 1899 | #1,075 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1898 | #1,151 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1893 | #1,065 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1891 | #863 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1888 | #941 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1887 | #953 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1884 | #784 | 7 | 0.0061% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
