How to say it
CATH · er · ine
ˈkæθ.ər.ɪn
Feminine
Catherine
Pure
What it means
A Greek name long associated with katharos, 'pure,' carried by St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Catherine traces to a Greek name that early Christians linked to katharos, 'pure,' through St. Catherine of Alexandria, the scholar-martyr of the breaking wheel. It has been royal for a thousand years, from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine the Great to today's Catherine, Princess of Wales. The C is the French and English classic spelling; Katherine and Kathryn are its siblings. Kate, Katie, Cat, and Kitty all fall out of it.
How to spell Catherine
The standard spelling is Catherine. Common variants include Katherine, Kathryn, Catharine, but Catherine is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #18 in 1914, currently #314 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Catherine, Katherine, and Kathryn are the same name; the C-form is the older French and English one.
- Nickname
Kate, Katie, Cat, Kit, and Kitty are all on offer.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Catherine the Great 18th-century Empress of Russia
- Catherine of Aragon first queen of Henry VIII
Spelling variants
- Katherine
- Kathryn
- Catharine
Names with the same feeling
See Catherine from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Catherine mean?
- A Greek name long associated with katharos, 'pure,' carried by St. Catherine of Alexandria.
- What does Catherine mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Catherine means "Pure." Catherine traces to a Greek name that early Christians linked to katharos, 'pure,' through St. Catherine of Alexandria, the scholar-martyr of the breaking wheel. It has been royal for a thousand years, from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine the Great to today's Catherine, Princess of Wales. The C is the French and English classic spelling; Katherine and Kathryn are its siblings. Kate, Katie, Cat, and Kitty all fall out of it.
- How do you pronounce Catherine?
- Catherine is pronounced ˈkæθ.ər.ɪn. Say it as CATH-er-ine, with the stress on the "cath" syllable.
- How do you spell Catherine?
- The standard spelling is Catherine. Common spelling variants include Katherine, Kathryn, Catharine.
- Is Catherine a boy or girl name?
- Catherine is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Catherine?
- Catherine ranked #314 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.