Fun Facts About the Name Katherine
- A favorite of earlier generations: Katherine appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 132 years. Its last run lasted 77 consecutive years, from 1940 through 2016.
- More than 652 thousand babies named Katherine: U.S. records list 652,732 babies given the name Katherine from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,824 boys received the name Katherine - about 1 boy for every 357 girls.
What Does the Name Katherine Mean?
Katherine is the English form of a Greek name traditionally interpreted as "pure," though the ultimate etymology is uncertain. The Greek original was Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine), which entered Latin as Catharina or Katharina. The common meaning "pure" is usually connected with Greek καθαρός (katharos), meaning "pure," but that link appears to be a later association: the older form Aikaterine does not contain the word katharos, and the -th- spelling developed in Latin. Other proposed explanations connect the name with the goddess Hekate or with Greek hekateros, "each of the two," but no derivation is securely established. Catherine is a variant spelling of the same name, not a separate origin.
Katherine Name History & Origins
The name is recorded in Greek as Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine). From Greek it passed into Latin as Catharina and Katharina, and from Latin into Old French as Catherine. Middle English forms include Katerine and Caterine, and the modern English spelling Katherine reflects the Latin Katharina. Devotion to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary fourth-century martyr, was widespread in medieval Europe, and the name appears in Christian usage in both East and West. Saint Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) was another well-known bearer. In English, the name has been used in several spellings, including Katherine, Catherine, Katharine, and Kathryn. Shakespeare's Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew is a literary use of an already established name, not its origin.
How Popular is the Name Katherine?
Katherine has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 132 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1940 to 2016.
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 | #186 | 1,670 | 0.1039% |
| 2024 | #175 | 1,740 | 0.1079% |
| 2023 | #170 | 1,703 | 0.1063% |
| 2022 | #166 | 1,738 | 0.1061% |
| 2021 | #157 | 1,819 | 0.1109% |
| 2020 | #136 | 1,991 | 0.1232% |
| 2019 | #120 | 2,450 | 0.1460% |
| 2018 | #112 | 2,676 | 0.1574% |
| 2017 | #105 | 2,861 | 0.1658% |
| 2016 | #91 | 3,275 | 0.1849% |
| 2015 | #84 | 3,454 | 0.1935% |
| 2014 | #82 | 3,689 | 0.2066% |
| 2013 | #77 | 3,723 | 0.2122% |
| 2012 | #64 | 3,953 | 0.2245% |
| 2011 | #61 | 4,189 | 0.2382% |
| 2010 | #70 | 3,869 | 0.2177% |
| 2009 | #60 | 4,431 | 0.2412% |
| 2008 | #45 | 5,350 | 0.2830% |
| 2007 | #39 | 5,818 | 0.3026% |
| 2006 | #37 | 6,295 | 0.3311% |
| 2005 | #36 | 6,392 | 0.3459% |
| 2004 | #35 | 6,742 | 0.3672% |
| 2003 | #35 | 7,126 | 0.3900% |
| 2002 | #36 | 7,212 | 0.4014% |
| 2001 | #35 | 7,880 | 0.4376% |
| 2000 | #33 | 8,109 | 0.4465% |
| 1999 | #36 | 7,935 | 0.4473% |
| 1998 | #33 | 8,205 | 0.4644% |
| 1997 | #32 | 8,517 | 0.4893% |
| 1996 | #31 | 8,878 | 0.5065% |
| 1995 | #30 | 8,987 | 0.5111% |
| 1994 | #30 | 9,586 | 0.5368% |
| 1993 | #29 | 10,506 | 0.5808% |
| 1992 | #27 | 11,149 | 0.6046% |
| 1991 | #25 | 11,495 | 0.6131% |
| 1990 | #26 | 11,627 | 0.6124% |
| 1989 | #26 | 11,415 | 0.6192% |
| 1988 | #27 | 11,154 | 0.6263% |
| 1987 | #28 | 10,438 | 0.6004% |
| 1986 | #28 | 10,570 | 0.6161% |
| 1985 | #32 | 10,129 | 0.5886% |
| 1984 | #30 | 10,156 | 0.6032% |
| 1983 | #34 | 9,683 | 0.5796% |
| 1982 | #36 | 9,180 | 0.5421% |
| 1981 | #39 | 8,433 | 0.5056% |
| 1980 | #35 | 8,018 | 0.4829% |
| 1979 | #36 | 7,465 | 0.4650% |
| 1978 | #38 | 6,625 | 0.4325% |
| 1977 | #44 | 6,030 | 0.3933% |
| 1976 | #57 | 5,053 | 0.3449% |
| 1975 | #58 | 4,852 | 0.3328% |
| 1974 | #62 | 4,532 | 0.3088% |
| 1973 | #64 | 4,419 | 0.3030% |
| 1972 | #69 | 4,511 | 0.2965% |
| 1971 | #67 | 5,122 | 0.3078% |
| 1970 | #67 | 5,443 | 0.3114% |
| 1969 | #70 | 5,167 | 0.3063% |
| 1968 | #75 | 4,715 | 0.2874% |
| 1967 | #76 | 4,561 | 0.2763% |
| 1966 | #78 | 4,492 | 0.2655% |
| 1965 | #79 | 4,706 | 0.2666% |
| 1964 | #82 | 5,073 | 0.2677% |
| 1963 | #87 | 5,125 | 0.2659% |
| 1962 | #84 | 5,271 | 0.2680% |
| 1961 | #86 | 5,632 | 0.2790% |
| 1960 | #81 | 5,876 | 0.2906% |
| 1959 | #79 | 6,138 | 0.3033% |
| 1958 | #74 | 6,433 | 0.3198% |
| 1957 | #72 | 6,637 | 0.3246% |
| 1956 | #67 | 7,081 | 0.3527% |
| 1955 | #65 | 7,240 | 0.3703% |
| 1954 | #64 | 6,740 | 0.3471% |
| 1953 | #63 | 6,559 | 0.3486% |
| 1952 | #59 | 6,891 | 0.3716% |
| 1951 | #55 | 6,930 | 0.3848% |
| 1950 | #58 | 6,205 | 0.3622% |
| 1949 | #59 | 6,039 | 0.3530% |
| 1948 | #68 | 5,169 | 0.3044% |
| 1947 | #76 | 4,885 | 0.2756% |
| 1946 | #78 | 4,196 | 0.2670% |
| 1945 | #82 | 3,392 | 0.2595% |
| 1944 | #77 | 3,525 | 0.2656% |
| 1943 | #78 | 3,616 | 0.2592% |
| 1942 | #81 | 3,376 | 0.2499% |
| 1941 | #85 | 3,004 | 0.2486% |
| 1940 | #91 | 2,709 | 0.2369% |
| 1939 | #101 | 2,476 | 0.2258% |
| 1938 | #105 | 2,575 | 0.2334% |
| 1937 | #103 | 2,484 | 0.2335% |
| 1936 | #100 | 2,355 | 0.2264% |
| 1935 | #103 | 2,340 | 0.2232% |
| 1934 | #101 | 2,388 | 0.2287% |
| 1933 | #100 | 2,330 | 0.2312% |
| 1932 | #95 | 2,588 | 0.2425% |
| 1931 | #92 | 2,624 | 0.2464% |
| 1930 | #85 | 3,033 | 0.2694% |
| 1929 | #84 | 3,016 | 0.2701% |
| 1928 | #75 | 3,398 | 0.2946% |
| 1927 | #73 | 3,724 | 0.3123% |
| 1926 | #72 | 3,834 | 0.3234% |
| 1925 | #61 | 4,240 | 0.3483% |
| 1924 | #59 | 4,695 | 0.3759% |
| 1923 | #60 | 4,579 | 0.3796% |
| 1922 | #54 | 4,827 | 0.4019% |
| 1921 | #49 | 5,156 | 0.4181% |
| 1920 | #45 | 5,276 | 0.4403% |
| 1919 | #51 | 4,846 | 0.4288% |
| 1918 | #50 | 5,191 | 0.4484% |
| 1917 | #49 | 4,956 | 0.4584% |
| 1916 | #51 | 4,801 | 0.4597% |
| 1915 | #49 | 4,488 | 0.4562% |
| 1914 | #48 | 3,652 | 0.4795% |
| 1913 | #54 | 2,794 | 0.4474% |
| 1912 | #53 | 2,546 | 0.4562% |
| 1911 | #55 | 1,858 | 0.4442% |
| 1910 | #57 | 1,752 | 0.4419% |
| 1909 | #53 | 1,557 | 0.4484% |
| 1908 | #55 | 1,430 | 0.4277% |
| 1907 | #55 | 1,413 | 0.4436% |
| 1906 | #56 | 1,277 | 0.4324% |
| 1905 | #64 | 1,190 | 0.4081% |
| 1904 | #63 | 1,128 | 0.4096% |
| 1903 | #66 | 1,015 | 0.3874% |
| 1902 | #68 | 1,004 | 0.3802% |
| 1901 | #71 | 890 | 0.3718% |
| 1900 | #65 | 1,201 | 0.4006% |
| 1899 | #65 | 942 | 0.4043% |
| 1898 | #69 | 914 | 0.3532% |
| 1897 | #65 | 962 | 0.4108% |
| 1896 | #61 | 1,047 | 0.4401% |
| 1895 | #65 | 968 | 0.4143% |
| 1894 | #64 | 948 | 0.4253% |
| 1893 | #62 | 963 | 0.4523% |
| 1892 | #60 | 961 | 0.4526% |
| 1891 | #62 | 803 | 0.4329% |
| 1890 | #59 | 900 | 0.4727% |
| 1889 | #56 | 889 | 0.4984% |
| 1888 | #56 | 893 | 0.4999% |
| 1887 | #53 | 794 | 0.5439% |
| 1886 | #54 | 744 | 0.5148% |
| 1885 | #50 | 751 | 0.5644% |
| 1884 | #55 | 671 | 0.5201% |
| 1883 | #56 | 583 | 0.5190% |
| 1882 | #52 | 591 | 0.5480% |
| 1881 | #52 | 504 | 0.5481% |
| 1880 | #53 | 502 | 0.5517% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #8,385 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #10,194 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #13,352 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #13,501 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #11,838 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,349 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #11,358 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #5,737 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #3,113 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #6,994 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #5,906 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #5,281 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #5,446 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #8,304 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #5,032 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #5,481 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #4,506 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #4,659 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #3,527 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #3,439 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1992 | #3,283 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #3,173 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #2,238 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1989 | #1,086 | 94 | 0.0047% |
| 1988 | #1,690 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1987 | #1,595 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1986 | #1,523 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1985 | #1,631 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1984 | #1,374 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1983 | #1,731 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1982 | #1,430 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1981 | #1,834 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1980 | #1,890 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1979 | #1,613 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1978 | #1,944 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1977 | #2,315 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,658 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #2,402 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #2,406 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,938 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #2,910 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #1,616 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1970 | #2,352 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,184 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #2,667 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,207 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #1,854 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #2,695 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #2,017 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #1,928 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #2,950 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #1,915 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #1,670 | 24 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #2,252 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #1,988 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,990 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #1,746 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,094 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,002 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,235 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #1,904 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,953 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,673 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #1,732 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #2,526 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #1,759 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #3,775 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,065 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #2,040 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,032 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,096 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #1,857 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #2,404 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,009 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #3,024 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #1,953 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #2,014 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #1,987 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1934 | #1,892 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,962 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1932 | #2,052 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #2,159 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #1,583 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1929 | #2,261 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #1,797 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1927 | #1,918 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1926 | #1,822 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #2,372 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #1,935 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1923 | #1,572 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1922 | #2,413 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #2,559 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1920 | #2,005 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1919 | #2,593 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,465 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #2,136 | 14 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #2,207 | 13 | 0.0015% |
| 1915 | #2,954 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,540 | 8 | 0.0012% |
| 1913 | #1,879 | 10 | 0.0020% |
| 1911 | #1,879 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1909 | #1,122 | 8 | 0.0049% |
| 1907 | #1,453 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1904 | #743 | 11 | 0.0086% |
| 1903 | #1,215 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1902 | #1,229 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1891 | #1,047 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1880 | #994 | 5 | 0.0045% |
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.
