The first name Katharine
A girl’s name from Greek meaning “pure”.
2 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Katharine means “pure” in Greek.
A variant spelling of Catherine, based on the folk etymology that it would derive from Greek καθαρός (katharos "pure").
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Katharine last appeared in the official list in 2023, given to 4 girls. It peaked in 1997, with 152 births (#258).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Katharine with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Katharine at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 27 girls born in the United States were named Katharine, the 4,935th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1982, when 946 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Katharine
43 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Katharine HepburnAmerican actress (1907–2003)
- Katharine RossAmerican actress, born 1940
- Katharine GrahamAmerican publisher, editor and author, 1917–2001
- Katharine McPheeAmerican recording artist, singer and songwriter, born 1984
- Katharine IsabelleCanadian actress, born 1981
- Katharine Lee BatesAmerican poet and songwriter (1859-1929)
- Katharine CornellAmerican actress, theatre manager and producer (1893-1974)
- Anna Katharine GreenAmerican novelist (1846–1935)
- Katharine DrexelAmerican Catholic sister and saint, 1858–1955
- Katharine HoughtonAmerican actress, playwright, born 1945
- Mary Katharine BrandegeeAmerican botanist (1844-1920)
- Katharine HayhoeCanadian atmospheric scientist, born 1972
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Katharine mean?
- Katharine means “pure” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Katharine?
- A variant spelling of Catherine, based on the folk etymology that it would derive from Greek καθαρός (katharos "pure").
- How popular is the name Katharine?
- In 2023, 4 girls born in England and Wales were named Katharine, ranking 4,709th. Its peak was 1997, with 152 births.
- Is Katharine a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 41,241 US babies named Katharine since 1880 were girls.
- When was Katharine most popular?
- 1982 in the United States, when 946 babies were named Katharine, its highest rank at 262nd.