How to say it
KATE
/keɪt/
Feminine
Kate
Pure
What it means
A short form of Katherine, from the Greek katharos, 'pure.'
Kate is the brisk, beloved short form of Katherine, from the Greek for 'pure.' It has long stood on its own, worn by Shakespeare's sharp-tongued Kate and now by the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. Crisp, classic, and unfussy. Katie is the softer version. Said KAYT.
Popularity over time
peaked at #79 in 1880, currently #522 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Katie.
- Pop culture
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
Spelling variants
- Cate
- Katie
- Kayte