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.
How to spell Kate
The standard spelling is Kate. Common variants include Cate, Katie, Kayte, but Kate is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Katie.
- Pop culture
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
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.
- Kate Middleton Princess of Wales and wife of Prince William
- Kate Winslet British actress and Academy Award winner
Spelling variants
- Cate
- Katie
- Kayte
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Kate mean?
- A short form of Katherine, from the Greek katharos, 'pure.'
- What does Kate mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Kate means "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.
- Is Kate short for Katherine?
- Yes. Kate is a short form of Katherine, and it carries the same meaning, "Pure." These days many parents use Kate as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Kate?
- Kate is pronounced keɪt. Say it as KATE, with the stress on the "kate" syllable.
- How do you spell Kate?
- The standard spelling is Kate. Common spelling variants include Cate, Katie, Kayte.
- Is Kate a boy or girl name?
- Kate is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kate?
- Kate ranked #522 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.