Katherine - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Katherine \k(a)-theri-ne, kath(e)-rine\ is pronounced KATH-rin, KATH-er-rin. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "pure". From the word "katharos". A name in use since at least the third century AD. The early Latin forms Katerina and Caterina became Katharine and Catherine. The French Cateline and English Catlyn came into wider use during the medieval period, and variant spellings and forms were endless. It has been borne by illustrious women such as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, an early martyr; Empress Catherine the Great of Russia; and three of Henry VIII's six wives. Preference in modern times is for the K- spelling, which is closest to the original Greek versions. See also Kara, Karina, and Kolina. Actresses Catherine Oxenburg, Catherine Deneuve, Katharine Hepburn, Catherine Zeta-Jones; skater Katarina Witt.

Katherine has 192 variant forms: Cait, Caitlin, Caitlinn, Caitrin, Caitrine, Caitriona, Caitrionagh, Caity, Caren, Cari, Carin, Caron, Caronne, Carren, Carri, Carrin, Carron, Caryn, Carynn, Cass, Cassey, Cassi, Cassie, Cat, Cataleen, Cataleena, Catalin, Catalina, Cataline, Catarina, Catarine, Cate, Cateline, Caterina, Cathaleen, Cathaline, Catharin, Catharina, Catharine, Catharyna, Catharyne, Cathee, Cathelina, Catherina, Catherine, Catheryn, Cathie, Cathirin, Cathiryn, Cathleen, Cathline, Cathlyne, Cathrine, Cathrinn, Cathryn, Cathrynn, Cathy, Cathye, Cati, Catie, Catina, Catlaina, Catreen, Catreina, Catrin, Catrina, Catrine, Catriona, Catrionagh, Catryna, Caty, Cay, Caye, Ekaterina, Kaatje, Kait, Kaitee, Kaitie, Kaitlin, Kaitlinn, Kaitlyn, Kaitrin, Kaitrine, Kaitrinn, Kaitrinna, Kaitriona, Kaity, Karen, Karena, Kari, Karin, Karon, Karri, Karrin, Karyn, Karynn, Kasia, Kasienka, Kasja, Kaska, Kasya, Kass, Kassi, Kassia, Kassie, Kas, Kat, Kata, Kataleen, Katalin, Katalina, Katarina, Katchen, Kate, Katee, Katell, Katelle, Katena, Katenka, Katerina, Katey, Katha, Katharine, Katharyn, Kathee, Kathelina, Katheline, Katherin, Katherina, Katheryn, Katheryne, Kathi, Kathie, Kathileen, Kathirin, Kathiryn, Kathirynn, Kathleen, Kathlene, Kathleyn, Kathline, Kathlyne, Kathrene, Kathrina, Kathrine, Kathrinna, Kathryn, Kathryne, Kathrynn, Kathy, Kathyrine, Kati, Katica, Katie, Katina, Katinka, Katka, Katla, Katlaina, Katleen, Katline, Katoushka, Katouska, Katrena, Katria, Katriana, Katriane, Katrien, Katrina, Katrine, Katriona, Katrionagh, Katrya, Katryna, Katushka, Katy, Katya, Kay, Kaye, Kaylin, Kit, Kittey, Kitti, Kittie, Kitty, Rina, Trina, Trinchen, Trine, Trinette, Yekaterin and Yekaterina.

For more information, see also related names Aikaterine, Caitrín, Kasha, Katelyn and Kayla.

Baby names that sound like Katherine are Katherynn, Katharyne, Catherinn and Catherin.

Katherine is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Katherine. Click here to compare Katherine with related baby names.