What does Katherine mean?

Katherine ▼ as a girls' name is pronounced KATH-rin, KATH-er-rin. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Katherine is "pure". From the word katharos. The name may also have come from Hecate, the name of the Greek goddess of magic. Yet another possible source is Greek aikia, "torture". All these meanings are likely associated with Saint Aikaterine of Alexandria (fourth century), who was born a pagan but died as a Christian martyr. A name in use since at least the third century AD. 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. Actresses Catherine Oxenburg, Catherine Deneuve, Katharine Hepburn, Catherine Zeta-Jones; skater Katarina Witt.

STARTS/ENDS WITH Kath-, -ine

ASSOCIATED WITH greek, pure (virgin), goddess, magic, empress (queen), great, russia, modern

Variations

VARIANTS 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, Yekaterina

SEE ALSO Karina, Kasha, Katelyn, Kayla, Kolina

OTHER FORMS VIA CATHERINE, KATHARINE Caterine, Cathelin, Cathenne, Catheren, Catherin, Catherinn, Cathern, Cathryne, Katerinka, Katharyne, Katherynn

How popular is Katherine?

Katherine is a very prominent first name for women (#61 out of 4276, Top 1%) and also a very prominent last name for all people (#72905 out of 150436, Top 48%). (2000 U.S. CENSUS)

Similar Names

Recommended sound-alike names are Arthurine (see Arthuretta), Athene, Carine, Cathlene, Catline, Chorine, Etheline, Frederine, Kadienne, Kaelene, Kaelie, Kaelin▼, Kaitrina, Kalene▼, Kameren, Kamerin, Kammeron, Kamrin, Karene, Karine, Karinne, Karlein (see Caroline), Karrine, Karyne, Katelan, Katelijn, Katelin▼, Kateline, Katelinn (see Katelyn), Katelynne, Kathaline, Kathe, Kathey, Kathlena, Kathlin, Kathlinne, Kathlyn, Kathlynn, Kathyline (see Kathleen), Kathylyne (see Kathleen), Katlin▼, Katlynne, Katreena, Katreina, Katrice, Katriel, Katrin, Katrisa, Kayelin, Kerrine, Ketreina, Ketrina, Korrine, Larine, Laurine, Laverine, Madeline, Marceline▲, Marine, Marthine, Maurine▼, Mazarine, Micheline, Narine, Nerine, Petrine, Rayleine (see Raina), Ruthine (see Ruth), Sarine, Sherine, Shirine, Verine, Walterine, Zephirine and Zephyrine. These names tend to be less commonly used than Katherine.