Catherine: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, and More

Fact: Catherine is a regal name with a long history of royal usage, especially in England. Notable queens include Catherine of Aragon and Catherine the Great.

Catherine Overview

Meaning

Pure

Gender

Girl

Origin

Greek

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word “katharos,” meaning “pure”

Religion

Christianity

Pronunciation

/ˈkæθərɪn/

Popularity

Catherine is cherished globally, particularly in European and English-speaking countries. In the USA, Catherine ranked 293rd for girls in 2023.

Syllable

3 syllables

Length

9 letters

Numerology

11 (Intuitive, Idealistic, Spiritual)

Name Styles

Classic, Traditional, Religious and Spiritual

Associated Traits

Elegant, graceful, compassionate, timeless

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Catherine is connected with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a revered Christian martyr known for her wisdom and purity.

Name Day

November 25th (Greek)

Catherine Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Katherine, Katharine, Kathryn, Cathryn, Katerina, Katarina, Catarina

Common Nicknames

Cathy, Cate, Kate, Cat

Diminutives

Cath, Catie, Kat, Kitty

Famous People

Catherine the Great
(Russian Empress)
Catherine Zeta-Jones
(Welsh Actress)
Catherine Deneuve
(French Actress)
Catherine O'Hara
(Canadian Actress)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

Catherine Earnshaw
("Wuthering Heights," Novel)
Catherine de Medici
("Reign," TV Series)
Catherine Tramell
("Basic Instinct," Film)
Catherine Barkley
("A Farewell to Arms," Novel)

Places

Catherine Hill Bay
(New South Wales, Australia)
Catherine Creek State Park
(Oregon, USA)
Sainte-Catherine Street
(Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

What Is the Meaning of Catherine?

Catherine means “pure” or “clear,” reflecting a personality that values honesty and integrity. Those with this name are often sincere and trustworthy, with a strong sense of fairness.

What Is the Origin of The Name Catherine?

Catherine comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, which has its roots in the word “katharos,” meaning “pure.” The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, maintaining its essence of purity throughout history.

Catherine Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Catherine in the U.S. over the Years

United States	#3232021	#3282022	#3322023
Top 3 Rankings	#181914	#181917	#191915

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Catherine

Year	Name Ranking	Number of Births	Birth Rate (%)
2023	332 (-4 from 2022)	928 (-53 from 2022)	0.05305
2022	328 (-5 from 2021)	981 (-23 from 2021)	0.05471
2021	323 (-56 from 2020)	1004 (-151 from 2020)	0.05604
2020	267 (-26 from 2019)	1155 (-157 from 2019)	0.06534
2019	241 (-36 from 2018)	1312 (-194 from 2018)	0.07150
2018	205 (-7 from 2017)	1506 (-78 from 2017)	0.08098
2017	198 (-2 from 2016)	1584 (-84 from 2016)	0.08385
2016	196 (-18 from 2015)	1668 (-138 from 2015)	0.08616
2015	178 (-8 from 2014)	1806 (-137 from 2014)	0.09257
2014	170 No change from 2013	1943 (+75 from 2013)	0.09932
2013	170 (-5 from 2012)	1868 (-45 from 2012)	0.09690
2012	165 (-4 from 2011)	1913 (-24 from 2011)	0.09864
2011	161 (+32 from 2010)	1937 (+326 from 2010)	0.09996
2010	193 (-17 from 2009)	1611 (-279 from 2009)	0.08217
2009	176 (-28 from 2008)	1890 (-433 from 2008)	0.09333
2008	148 (-6 from 2007)	2323 (-149 from 2007)	0.11153
2007	142 (-21 from 2006)	2472 (-320 from 2006)	0.11680
2006	121 (-12 from 2005)	2792 (-193 from 2005)	0.13356
2005	109 (-6 from 2004)	2985 (-196 from 2004)	0.14708
2004	103 (+3 from 2003)	3181 (-50 from 2003)	0.15765
2003	106 (-5 from 2002)	3231 (-61 from 2002)	0.16103
2002	101 (-20 from 2001)	3292 (-439 from 2001)	0.16668
2001	81 No change from 2000	3731 (-71 from 2000)	0.18835
2000	81 (+17 from 1999)	3802 (+401 from 1999)	0.19051
1999	98 (+3 from 1998)	3401 (+53 from 1998)	0.17470
1998	101 (-5 from 1997)	3348 (-243 from 1997)	0.17271
1997	96 (-1 from 1996)	3591 (-148 from 1996)	0.18808
1996	95 (-5 from 1995)	3739 (-120 from 1995)	0.19502
1995	90 (-6 from 1994)	3859 (-243 from 1994)	0.20083
1994	84 (-9 from 1993)	4102 (-373 from 1993)	0.21043
1993	75 (+3 from 1992)	4475 (-61 from 1992)	0.22698
1992	78 (-6 from 1991)	4536 (-278 from 1991)	0.22627
1991	72 (-1 from 1990)	4814 (-79 from 1990)	0.23674
1990	71 (-4 from 1989)	4893 (+335 from 1989)	0.23817
1989	67 (+2 from 1988)	4558 (+54 from 1988)	0.22879
1988	69 (+5 from 1987)	4504 (+396 from 1987)	0.23420
1987	74 (-7 from 1986)	4108 (-134 from 1986)	0.21918
1986	67 (-2 from 1985)	4242 (-55 from 1985)	0.22986
1985	65 (+4 from 1984)	4297 (+57 from 1984)	0.23273
1984	69 (-3 from 1983)	4240 (-12 from 1983)	0.23512
1983	66 (+7 from 1982)	4252 (+155 from 1982)	0.23759
1982	73 No change from 1981	4097 (+41 from 1981)	0.22582
1981	73 (+4 from 1980)	4056 (-24 from 1980)	0.22678
1980	77 (+1 from 1979)	4080 (+202 from 1979)	0.22913
1979	78 (-6 from 1978)	3878 (-81 from 1978)	0.22504
1978	72 (+3 from 1977)	3959 (+118 from 1977)	0.24083
1977	75 (-3 from 1976)	3841 (+62 from 1976)	0.23350
1976	72 (+1 from 1975)	3779 (-156 from 1975)	0.24041
1975	73 No change from 1974	3935 (-248 from 1974)	0.25210
1974	73 (-6 from 1973)	4183 (-79 from 1973)	0.26707
1973	67 (-2 from 1972)	4262 (-423 from 1972)	0.27424
1972	65 No change from 1971	4685 (-651 from 1971)	0.29053
1971	65 (-6 from 1970)	5336 (-670 from 1970)	0.30446
1970	59 (-1 from 1969)	6006 (-87 from 1969)	0.32786
1969	58 (-2 from 1968)	6093 (-36 from 1968)	0.34566
1968	56 (-1 from 1967)	6129 (-216 from 1967)	0.35849
1967	55 (-1 from 1966)	6345 (-616 from 1966)	0.36958
1966	54 (+3 from 1965)	6961 (-282 from 1965)	0.39646
1965	57 (-3 from 1964)	7243 (-994 from 1964)	0.39634
1964	54 (-1 from 1963)	8237 (-58 from 1963)	0.42082
1963	53 No change from 1962	8295 (-401 from 1962)	0.41724
1962	53 (-5 from 1961)	8696 (-555 from 1961)	0.42903
1961	48 (-6 from 1960)	9251 (-283 from 1960)	0.44537
1960	42 (-2 from 1959)	9534 (-488 from 1959)	0.45842
1959	40 (-2 from 1958)	10022 (-748 from 1958)	0.48215
1958	38 (-1 from 1957)	10770 (-380 from 1957)	0.52136
1957	37 (-9 from 1956)	11150 (-908 from 1956)	0.53142
1956	28 No change from 1955	12058 (+422 from 1955)	0.58547
1955	28 (+4 from 1954)	11636 (+556 from 1954)	0.58038
1954	32 (+3 from 1953)	11080 (+232 from 1953)	0.55655
1953	35 (-1 from 1952)	10848 (-205 from 1952)	0.56222
1952	34 No change from 1951	11053 (+487 from 1951)	0.58113
1951	34 No change from 1950	10566 (+911 from 1950)	0.57198
1950	34 (+3 from 1949)	9655 (+518 from 1949)	0.54904
1949	37 (+4 from 1948)	9137 (+894 from 1948)	0.52047
1948	41 (+5 from 1947)	8243 (+354 from 1947)	0.47301
1947	46 (+2 from 1946)	7889 (+1521 from 1946)	0.43397
1946	48 (+2 from 1945)	6368 (+1337 from 1945)	0.39482
1945	50 (-1 from 1944)	5031 (-224 from 1944)	0.37374
1944	49 (-1 from 1943)	5255 (-172 from 1943)	0.38455
1943	48 (+1 from 1942)	5427 (+160 from 1942)	0.37808
1942	49 (+2 from 1941)	5267 (+383 from 1941)	0.37879
1941	51 (+2 from 1940)	4884 (+300 from 1940)	0.39198
1940	53 (-4 from 1939)	4584 (+8 from 1939)	0.38803
1939	49 (-1 from 1938)	4576 (+51 from 1938)	0.40350
1938	48 (-1 from 1937)	4525 (+65 from 1937)	0.39643
1937	47 (-3 from 1936)	4460 (-76 from 1936)	0.40478
1936	44 (-2 from 1935)	4536 (-163 from 1935)	0.42095
1935	42 No change from 1934	4699 (-235 from 1934)	0.43238
1934	42 (+2 from 1933)	4934 (+26 from 1933)	0.45586
1933	44 (-5 from 1932)	4908 (-540 from 1932)	0.46920
1932	39 (-3 from 1931)	5448 (-195 from 1931)	0.49245
1931	36 (-1 from 1930)	5643 (-654 from 1930)	0.51127
1930	35 (-1 from 1929)	6297 (+20 from 1929)	0.53984
1929	34 (-1 from 1928)	6277 (-633 from 1928)	0.54227
1928	33 (-2 from 1927)	6910 (-346 from 1927)	0.57799
1927	31 No change from 1926	7256 (-213 from 1926)	0.58685
1926	31 (-2 from 1925)	7469 (-398 from 1925)	0.60715
1925	29 (-2 from 1924)	7867 (-496 from 1924)	0.62284
1924	27 (-3 from 1923)	8363 (-74 from 1923)	0.64546
1923	24 No change from 1922	8437 (-100 from 1922)	0.67363
1922	24 (-1 from 1921)	8537 (-350 from 1921)	0.68429
1921	23 (-2 from 1920)	8887 (+9 from 1920)	0.69445
1920	21 (+2 from 1919)	8878 (+543 from 1919)	0.71365
1919	23 (-3 from 1918)	8335 (-507 from 1918)	0.70958
1918	20 (-2 from 1917)	8842 (+153 from 1917)	0.73539
1917	18 (+2 from 1916)	8689 (+220 from 1916)	0.77326
1916	20 (-1 from 1915)	8469 (+288 from 1915)	0.78004
1915	19 (-1 from 1914)	8181 (+1568 from 1914)	0.79903
1914	18 (+4 from 1913)	6613 (+1311 from 1913)	0.83012
1913	22 (-1 from 1912)	5302 (+636 from 1912)	0.80957
1912	21 (-1 from 1911)	4666 (+1101 from 1911)	0.79528
1911	20 (+2 from 1910)	3565 (+404 from 1910)	0.80690
1910	22 (+1 from 1909)	3161 (+264 from 1909)	0.75347
1909	23 (-1 from 1908)	2897 (+147 from 1908)	0.78703
1908	22 (+3 from 1907)	2750 (+293 from 1907)	0.77567
1907	25 (+1 from 1906)	2457 (+227 from 1906)	0.72814
1906	26 (+2 from 1905)	2230 (+32 from 1905)	0.71147
1905	28 (+3 from 1904)	2198 (+215 from 1904)	0.70935
1904	31 (+1 from 1903)	1983 (+67 from 1903)	0.67810
1903	32 (-1 from 1902)	1916 (+20 from 1902)	0.68872
1902	31 (+7 from 1901)	1896 (+297 from 1901)	0.67635
1901	38 (-4 from 1900)	1599 (-482 from 1900)	0.62896
1900	34 (+2 from 1899)	2081 (+453 from 1899)	0.65494
1899	36 (+5 from 1898)	1628 (-77 from 1898)	0.65781
1898	41 (+1 from 1897)	1705 (+194 from 1897)	0.62193
1897	42 (-2 from 1896)	1511 (-83 from 1896)	0.60860
1896	40 (-2 from 1895)	1594 (+80 from 1895)	0.63256
1895	38 (+3 from 1894)	1514 (+84 from 1894)	0.61269
1894	41 (+1 from 1893)	1430 (+94 from 1893)	0.60600
1893	42 No change from 1892	1336 (+3 from 1892)	0.59317
1892	42 (-1 from 1891)	1333 (+114 from 1891)	0.59267
1891	41 (+3 from 1890)	1219 (-13 from 1890)	0.62015
1890	44 (-2 from 1889)	1232 (+34 from 1889)	0.61092
1889	42 No change from 1888	1198 (-14 from 1888)	0.63313
1888	42 (+2 from 1887)	1212 (+245 from 1887)	0.63976
1887	44 (+1 from 1886)	967 (+51 from 1886)	0.62217
1886	45 No change from 1885	916 (+70 from 1885)	0.59583
1885	45 (-2 from 1884)	846 (-28 from 1884)	0.59600
1884	43 (-7 from 1883)	874 (+21 from 1883)	0.63524
1883	36 (+6 from 1882)	853 (+127 from 1882)	0.71048
1882	42 (-2 from 1881)	726 (+91 from 1881)	0.62752
1881	40 (-9 from 1880)	635 (-53 from 1880)	0.64235
1880	31 First SSA data recorded	688 First SSA data recorded	0.70488

American States Popularity Rankings for Catherine

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

New York (NY)

#2992021

#3082022

#4832023

Pennsylvania (PA)

#2702021

#2902022

#2892023

California (CA)

#4352021

#3772022

#3512023

Illinois (IL)

#2602021

#4542022

#4802023

New Jersey (NJ)

#2292021

#3632022

#3882023

Massachusetts (MA)

#2012021

#2752022

#2972023

Ohio (OH)

#3022021

#3652022

#4182023

Texas (TX)

#2642021

#2502022

#3192023

Michigan (MI)

#4182021

#6642022

#3932023

Virginia (VA)

#2832021

#2062022

#2452023

North Carolina (NC)

#2842021

#2242022

#3302023

Georgia (GA)

#2992021

#2962022

#2412023

Maryland (MD)

#3662021

#2902022

#3882023

Florida (FL)

#4702021

#3742022

#3212023

Missouri (MO)

#5802021

#4152022

#2282023

Indiana (IN)

#4342021

#4352022

#3422023

Louisiana (LA)

#2132021

#3132022

#1692023

Wisconsin (WI)

#7562021

#2842022

#5472023

Alabama (AL)

#1842021

#2902022

#1482023

Minnesota (MN)

#3572021

#2992022

#3342023

Connecticut (CT)

#3242021

#2692022

#2162023

South Carolina (SC)

#1552021

#1812022

#2142023

Tennessee (TN)

#2442021

#2742022

#2012023

Kentucky (KY)

#1912021

#2572022

#4852023

Mississippi (MS)

#3452021

#3322022

#4132023

Washington (WA)

#4702021

#4272022

#5462023

Iowa (IA)

#3532021

#2852022

#2982023

Colorado (CO)

#3472021

#4432022

#4022023

District of Columbia (DC)

#762021

#1812022

#742023

Kansas (KS)

#2332021

#5322022

#4432023

West Virginia (WV)

#2492017

#3282018

#2852019

Arkansas (AR)

#3222021

#3852022

#2712023

Oklahoma (OK)

#2172021

#4122022

#5562023

Nebraska (NE)

#3212019

#3132020

#4212023

Arizona (AZ)

#3002021

#2722022

#4862023

Oregon (OR)

#3602020

#5682022

#4162023

Rhode Island (RI)

#1992017

#1662018

#1882019

Maine (ME)

#2352014

#2022016

#1812019

New Hampshire (NH)

#1852018

#2272022

#2382023

Utah (UT)

#5812021

#4072022

#3852023

New Mexico (NM)

#2872015

#3522019

#2702022

Delaware (DE)

#1592016

#1572017

#1242020

Montana (MT)

#1832011

#2292015

#1802017

North Dakota (ND)

#2172013

#2272015

#2072018

Hawaii (HI)

#2142012

#1402013

#2292016

Vermont (VT)

#902005

#932006

#1102011

South Dakota (SD)

#1202003

#2142005

#2212010

Idaho (ID)

#1952016

#3062018

#3892021

Nevada (NV)

#3842020

#2712021

#5332022

Alaska (AK)

#1592014

#1872015

#1732017

Wyoming (WY)

#832000

#862004

#382018

Popularity Rankings for Catherine in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa

Guam

Northern Mariana Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories

#351999

#202016

#222018

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW)

#681991

#881993

#902000

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

#1392021

#1522022

#2642023

Popularity in Chile

Chile

#1582001

#1572002

#1752003

Popularity in France

France

#1571989

#1711990

#1871991

Popularity in Belgium

Belgium

#1831995

#1941998

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland

#1902021

#3042022

#3162023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland

#3162021

#2232022

#2812023

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada

#2412020

#4332021

#5002022

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand

#3482020

#3052021

#4402022

Popularity in Canada

Canada

#3412021

#3832022

#4512023

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

#5112004

#3522005

#3972006

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales

#4172019

#4162020

#4572021

Popularity in Norway

Norway

#4732001

#5362002

#5032018

Popularity in Poland

Poland

#5992014

#7242015

#7112016

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland

#6272013

#6622018

#7112019

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Catherine a Name for Boys or Girls?

Catherine is generally a girl’s name, known for its sophistication and historical depth. The name’s connection to purity and its frequent use for notable women make it a popular choice for girls.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Catherine

Meaning: Pure
Origin: GreekKatherine
Katharine
Meaning: Pure
Origin: GreekKathryn
Cathryn
Katerina
Katarina
Catarina

Cathy
Cate
Meaning: Pure, clear, virginal
Origin: English, GreekKate
Cat

Cath
Catie
Kat
Kitty

Catherine in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

Catherine the Great (Empress, 1729–1796): The longest-ruling female leader of Russia who expanded the empire and fostered the Enlightenment in her country.
Catherine Zeta-Jones (Actress, born 1969): A Welsh actress who has starred in films like "Chicago" and "The Mask of Zorro."
Catherine Deneuve (Actress, born 1943): A French actress celebrated for her performances in films such as "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and "Belle de Jour."
Catherine O'Hara (Actress, born 1954): A Canadian actress known for her comedic roles in "Schitt's Creek" and "Home Alone."
Catherine McAuley (Nun, 1778–1841): An Irish nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy, a religious congregation focused on education and healthcare.
Catherine Parr (Queen Consort, 1512–1548): The sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII of England who outlived the king.

Catherine Earnshaw ("Wuthering Heights," 1847 Novel by Emily Brontë): A passionate and headstrong character whose love story is central to the novel's plot.
Catherine de Medici ("Reign," 2013 TV Series): A powerful and cunning queen consort of France, navigating political intrigue.
Catherine Tramell ("Basic Instinct," 1992 Film): A seductive and manipulative writer involved in a murder investigation.
Catherine Barkley ("A Farewell to Arms," 1929 Novel by Ernest Hemingway): A British nurse who falls in love with an American ambulance driver during World War I.
Catherine Willows ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 2000 TV Series): A forensic investigator known for her expertise and dedication to solving crimes.
"Catherine the Great" (2019 TV Miniseries): Chronicles the life and reign of the Russian empress, Catherine the Great.

Catherine Hill Bay (New South Wales, Australia): A coastal village renowned for its heritage-listed Catherine Hill Bay Beach and historic coal mining sites.
Catherine Creek State Park (Oregon, USA): A state park in the Blue Mountains, featuring scenic trails and abundant wildlife.
Sainte-Catherine Street (Montreal, Quebec, Canada): A major commercial artery in downtown Montreal, famous for its shops, restaurants, and cultural venues.
St. Catherine's Island (Georgia, USA): A privately owned island with rich biodiversity and significant archaeological sites.
St. Catherine's College (Oxford, England): One of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, distinguished by its modern architecture.
St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai, Egypt): An ancient monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world.

Catherine Name Meaning

Catherine Overview

Catherine Variations in Different Cultures

What Is the Meaning of Catherine?

What Is the Origin of The Name Catherine?

Catherine Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Catherine in the U.S. over the Years

American States Popularity Rankings for Catherine

New York (NY)

Pennsylvania (PA)

California (CA)

Illinois (IL)

New Jersey (NJ)

Massachusetts (MA)

Ohio (OH)

Texas (TX)

Michigan (MI)

Virginia (VA)

North Carolina (NC)

Georgia (GA)

Maryland (MD)

Florida (FL)

Missouri (MO)

Indiana (IN)

Louisiana (LA)

Wisconsin (WI)

Alabama (AL)

Minnesota (MN)

Connecticut (CT)

South Carolina (SC)

Tennessee (TN)

Kentucky (KY)

Mississippi (MS)

Washington (WA)

Iowa (IA)

Colorado (CO)

District of Columbia (DC)

Kansas (KS)

West Virginia (WV)

Arkansas (AR)

Oklahoma (OK)

Nebraska (NE)

Arizona (AZ)

Oregon (OR)

Rhode Island (RI)

Maine (ME)

New Hampshire (NH)

Utah (UT)

New Mexico (NM)

Delaware (DE)

Montana (MT)

North Dakota (ND)

Hawaii (HI)

Vermont (VT)

South Dakota (SD)

Idaho (ID)

Nevada (NV)

Alaska (AK)

Wyoming (WY)

Popularity in Other American Territories

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Popularity in Chile

Popularity in France

Popularity in Belgium

Popularity in Ireland

Popularity in Scotland

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Popularity in New Zealand

Popularity in Canada

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Popularity in England and Wales

Popularity in Norway

Popularity in Poland

Popularity in Switzerland

Is Catherine a Name for Boys or Girls?

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Catherine

Catherine in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

Similar Names to Catherine