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Name Lineage

    The first name Katherine

    A girl’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /ˈkæθ(ə)ɹɪn/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    A female given name from Ancient Greek, a popular spelling variant of Catherine.

    A form of Catherine.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 40 girls were named Katherine, making it the 872nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 1,266 births (#48).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    11,363
    babies named Katherine, 1996–2025
    #872
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Katherine with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Katherine at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,670 girls born in the United States were named Katherine, the 186th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1990, when 11,625 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    652,750
    babies named Katherine since 1880
    #186
    rank in 2025
    1990
    peak year

    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Katherine

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Katherine

    149 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Katherine Johnson
      African-American mathematician, 1918–2020
    • Katherine Heigl
      American actress (born 1978)
    • Katherine Anne Porter
      American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist (1890–
    • Katherine Langford
      Australian actress (born 1996)
    • Katherine McNamara
      American actress (born 1995)
    • Katherine Waterston
      British-born American actress, born 1980
    • Katherine Moennig
      American actress (born 1977)
    • Katherine Helmond
      American actress (1929–2019)
    • Katherine Paterson
      American children's writer born and mainly raised in China, born 1932
    • Katherine Dunham
      American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, actress and activist (1909/1912–2006)
    • Katherine LaNasa
      American actress (born 1966)
    • Katherine Applegate
      American writer, born 1956

    More Greek girls’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What is the origin of the name Katherine?
    Katherine comes from Greek.
    How popular is the name Katherine?
    In 2025, 40 girls born in England and Wales were named Katherine, ranking 872nd. Its peak was 1996, with 1,266 births.
    What are nicknames for Katherine?
    Common nicknames for Katherine include Kay, Kit, Kitty, Kate, Kathy, Kati.
    Is Katherine a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 652,750 US babies named Katherine since 1880 were girls.
    When was Katherine most popular?
    1990 in the United States, when 11,625 babies were named Katherine, its highest rank at 26th.
    How do you pronounce Katherine?
    Katherine is /ˈkæθ(ə)ɹɪn/, 3 syllables.
    What name is Katherine a form of?
    Katherine is a form of Catherine.
    What are other spellings of Katherine?
    Kathy, Kath and Kate.