Fun Facts About the Name Kathryn
- A favorite of earlier generations: Kathryn appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 104 years. Its last run lasted 28 consecutive years, from 1974 through 2001.
- More than 456 thousand babies named Kathryn: U.S. records list 456,509 babies given the name Kathryn from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,092 boys received the name Kathryn - about 1 boy for every 417 girls.
What Does the Name Kathryn Mean?
Kathryn is an English spelling of Katherine, a name customarily understood to mean "pure," from the Greek katharos (pure). That meaning is a traditional interpretation rather than a settled etymology. The oldest recorded form of the name is the Greek Aikaterine (Αἰκατερίνη), whose origin is disputed. One explanation connects it with hekateros, "each of the two," and with the goddess Hekate; another ties it to katharos, "pure." The Latin spelling Catharina, with th, reflects the pull of the "pure" association. Because the pre-Greek source of Aikaterine is not known with certainty, the literal meaning stays uncertain even though "pure" is the meaning most often given.
Kathryn Name History & Origins
Kathryn belongs to the group of English spellings of a name that reached western Europe in the Middle Ages. It came through the Latin Catharina and Old French Catherine, both from the Greek Aikaterine. Devotion to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary early Christian martyr, helped spread the name through Christian Europe, and Katherine was in common use in England by the 12th century, often written Katerine in medieval records. Later bearers include Catherine of Siena in Italy and the English queens Catherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr.
The spelling Kathryn changes the second syllable of Katherine, putting y in place of e. It stands alongside other English forms such as Katharine, Catharine, Catherine, and Cathryn. The same underlying name appears in other languages as Catherine (French), Caterina (Italian), Catalina (Spanish), and Katarina or Ekaterina in Slavic and Russian use.
How Popular is the Name Kathryn?
Kathryn has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 104 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1974 to 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 | #729 | 381 | 0.0237% |
| 2024 | #717 | 391 | 0.0242% |
| 2023 | #677 | 432 | 0.0270% |
| 2022 | #655 | 452 | 0.0276% |
| 2021 | #589 | 510 | 0.0311% |
| 2020 | #525 | 574 | 0.0355% |
| 2019 | #486 | 650 | 0.0387% |
| 2018 | #453 | 698 | 0.0410% |
| 2017 | #427 | 748 | 0.0433% |
| 2016 | #396 | 839 | 0.0474% |
| 2015 | #318 | 1,021 | 0.0572% |
| 2014 | #293 | 1,118 | 0.0626% |
| 2013 | #270 | 1,184 | 0.0675% |
| 2012 | #264 | 1,230 | 0.0699% |
| 2011 | #237 | 1,337 | 0.0760% |
| 2010 | #230 | 1,370 | 0.0771% |
| 2009 | #213 | 1,520 | 0.0827% |
| 2008 | #190 | 1,782 | 0.0942% |
| 2007 | #163 | 2,215 | 0.1152% |
| 2006 | #143 | 2,419 | 0.1272% |
| 2005 | #125 | 2,579 | 0.1396% |
| 2004 | #122 | 2,757 | 0.1502% |
| 2003 | #117 | 2,948 | 0.1614% |
| 2002 | #108 | 3,108 | 0.1730% |
| 2001 | #97 | 3,332 | 0.1851% |
| 2000 | #89 | 3,644 | 0.2007% |
| 1999 | #91 | 3,589 | 0.2023% |
| 1998 | #89 | 3,703 | 0.2096% |
| 1997 | #86 | 3,873 | 0.2225% |
| 1996 | #87 | 4,102 | 0.2340% |
| 1995 | #83 | 4,328 | 0.2461% |
| 1994 | #79 | 4,620 | 0.2587% |
| 1993 | #68 | 5,092 | 0.2815% |
| 1992 | #60 | 5,687 | 0.3084% |
| 1991 | #57 | 5,832 | 0.3110% |
| 1990 | #57 | 6,353 | 0.3346% |
| 1989 | #58 | 6,294 | 0.3414% |
| 1988 | #55 | 6,342 | 0.3561% |
| 1987 | #51 | 6,237 | 0.3587% |
| 1986 | #48 | 6,393 | 0.3727% |
| 1985 | #48 | 6,634 | 0.3855% |
| 1984 | #48 | 6,538 | 0.3883% |
| 1983 | #50 | 6,372 | 0.3814% |
| 1982 | #48 | 6,284 | 0.3711% |
| 1981 | #48 | 5,823 | 0.3491% |
| 1980 | #50 | 5,528 | 0.3329% |
| 1979 | #50 | 5,312 | 0.3309% |
| 1978 | #57 | 4,808 | 0.3139% |
| 1977 | #70 | 3,965 | 0.2586% |
| 1976 | #88 | 3,263 | 0.2227% |
| 1975 | #99 | 2,947 | 0.2021% |
| 1974 | #98 | 2,991 | 0.2038% |
| 1973 | #107 | 2,885 | 0.1978% |
| 1972 | #103 | 3,127 | 0.2056% |
| 1971 | #111 | 3,420 | 0.2055% |
| 1970 | #104 | 3,718 | 0.2127% |
| 1969 | #104 | 3,617 | 0.2144% |
| 1968 | #100 | 3,561 | 0.2171% |
| 1967 | #92 | 3,695 | 0.2238% |
| 1966 | #86 | 4,008 | 0.2369% |
| 1965 | #87 | 4,157 | 0.2355% |
| 1964 | #84 | 4,924 | 0.2599% |
| 1963 | #93 | 4,701 | 0.2439% |
| 1962 | #89 | 5,107 | 0.2597% |
| 1961 | #93 | 5,227 | 0.2590% |
| 1960 | #82 | 5,867 | 0.2902% |
| 1959 | #69 | 6,745 | 0.3333% |
| 1958 | #58 | 7,324 | 0.3641% |
| 1957 | #65 | 7,211 | 0.3526% |
| 1956 | #60 | 7,594 | 0.3782% |
| 1955 | #59 | 7,641 | 0.3908% |
| 1954 | #51 | 8,137 | 0.4190% |
| 1953 | #48 | 8,324 | 0.4425% |
| 1952 | #48 | 8,504 | 0.4586% |
| 1951 | #45 | 8,460 | 0.4698% |
| 1950 | #46 | 7,863 | 0.4590% |
| 1949 | #52 | 7,184 | 0.4199% |
| 1948 | #54 | 6,177 | 0.3638% |
| 1947 | #55 | 6,091 | 0.3436% |
| 1946 | #63 | 4,998 | 0.3181% |
| 1945 | #65 | 3,971 | 0.3038% |
| 1944 | #68 | 3,855 | 0.2905% |
| 1943 | #75 | 3,647 | 0.2614% |
| 1942 | #82 | 3,350 | 0.2480% |
| 1941 | #87 | 2,869 | 0.2375% |
| 1940 | #103 | 2,438 | 0.2132% |
| 1939 | #106 | 2,379 | 0.2169% |
| 1938 | #114 | 2,282 | 0.2068% |
| 1937 | #108 | 2,326 | 0.2186% |
| 1936 | #113 | 2,110 | 0.2028% |
| 1935 | #111 | 2,127 | 0.2028% |
| 1934 | #108 | 2,258 | 0.2162% |
| 1933 | #108 | 2,121 | 0.2104% |
| 1932 | #107 | 2,263 | 0.2121% |
| 1931 | #108 | 2,202 | 0.2068% |
| 1930 | #101 | 2,515 | 0.2234% |
| 1929 | #104 | 2,434 | 0.2180% |
| 1928 | #99 | 2,681 | 0.2325% |
| 1927 | #90 | 2,933 | 0.2460% |
| 1926 | #87 | 3,094 | 0.2610% |
| 1925 | #88 | 3,262 | 0.2680% |
| 1924 | #81 | 3,598 | 0.2881% |
| 1923 | #72 | 3,714 | 0.3079% |
| 1922 | #73 | 3,792 | 0.3157% |
| 1921 | #64 | 4,201 | 0.3407% |
| 1920 | #67 | 4,082 | 0.3407% |
| 1919 | #66 | 3,825 | 0.3385% |
| 1918 | #63 | 4,068 | 0.3514% |
| 1917 | #60 | 3,984 | 0.3685% |
| 1916 | #60 | 3,933 | 0.3766% |
| 1915 | #60 | 3,778 | 0.3840% |
| 1914 | #63 | 2,901 | 0.3809% |
| 1913 | #66 | 2,246 | 0.3596% |
| 1912 | #71 | 1,905 | 0.3413% |
| 1911 | #73 | 1,397 | 0.3340% |
| 1910 | #80 | 1,198 | 0.3021% |
| 1909 | #74 | 1,138 | 0.3277% |
| 1908 | #77 | 1,058 | 0.3165% |
| 1907 | #88 | 864 | 0.2712% |
| 1906 | #78 | 911 | 0.3085% |
| 1905 | #86 | 788 | 0.2702% |
| 1904 | #83 | 787 | 0.2858% |
| 1903 | #86 | 729 | 0.2783% |
| 1902 | #87 | 717 | 0.2715% |
| 1901 | #90 | 620 | 0.2590% |
| 1900 | #93 | 721 | 0.2405% |
| 1899 | #88 | 621 | 0.2665% |
| 1898 | #89 | 671 | 0.2593% |
| 1897 | #93 | 570 | 0.2434% |
| 1896 | #88 | 625 | 0.2627% |
| 1895 | #90 | 585 | 0.2504% |
| 1894 | #96 | 520 | 0.2333% |
| 1893 | #90 | 534 | 0.2508% |
| 1892 | #88 | 549 | 0.2585% |
| 1891 | #87 | 504 | 0.2717% |
| 1890 | #91 | 474 | 0.2490% |
| 1889 | #94 | 415 | 0.2327% |
| 1888 | #93 | 446 | 0.2497% |
| 1887 | #87 | 384 | 0.2630% |
| 1886 | #89 | 383 | 0.2650% |
| 1885 | #93 | 320 | 0.2405% |
| 1884 | #88 | 344 | 0.2666% |
| 1883 | #93 | 290 | 0.2582% |
| 1882 | #96 | 272 | 0.2522% |
| 1881 | #98 | 218 | 0.2371% |
| 1880 | #103 | 204 | 0.2242% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #11,732 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #13,413 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #13,042 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #10,802 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #4,691 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #10,059 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,927 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #6,949 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #7,392 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #8,286 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #6,537 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #5,450 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #4,628 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #6,806 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #1,941 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1988 | #2,559 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #2,245 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1986 | #1,774 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #1,993 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1984 | #2,130 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #1,771 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1982 | #1,963 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1981 | #2,539 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #2,143 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1979 | #2,277 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #2,160 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #3,113 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #3,169 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #3,797 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,948 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,891 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #2,374 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #3,525 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #2,983 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,393 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,180 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #2,696 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #1,634 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #2,161 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #1,928 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #2,290 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #2,076 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,940 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,066 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,924 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #2,321 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,184 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #3,068 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #2,236 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,209 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #2,435 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,509 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #2,278 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #2,902 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #2,771 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,357 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #1,821 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,548 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #2,033 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,458 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,772 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,247 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,986 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #2,404 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,373 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1935 | #2,330 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1934 | #2,846 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #2,641 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #2,255 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #2,978 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,133 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #3,117 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #3,934 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #3,306 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #2,810 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1925 | #4,578 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,677 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #4,035 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #3,706 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,108 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #2,679 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #3,005 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #2,792 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #2,642 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #2,542 | 10 | 0.0012% |
| 1913 | #2,650 | 6 | 0.0012% |
| 1898 | #944 | 7 | 0.0057% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Kathryn
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Most Popular Girl Names at All Time
Past Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Kathryn
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with K
How the Name Kathryn Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Kathryn's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kathryn's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.