Catherine
Catherine is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Catherine is a classic feminine name of Greek origin that has been widely used throughout Christian history. It was borne by numerous saints, queens, and empresses, including Catherine the Great of Russia. In the United States, it has been a consistently enduring name, ranking among the top 50 most popular female names historically.
Popularity in the United States
667,789 babies in the United States have been named Catherine since 1880. It ranks #39 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #314.
States where it is most popular
- NY (12.7 %)
- PA (9.2 %)
- CA (7 %)
- IL (5.4 %)
- NJ (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 8,915 |
| 1890-1900 | 14,502 |
| 1900-1910 | 22,006 |
| 1910-1920 | 65,823 |
| 1920-1930 | 78,881 |
| 1930-1940 | 50,027 |
| 1940-1950 | 62,086 |
| 1950-1960 | 108,839 |
| 1960-1970 | 76,788 |
| 1970-1980 | 43,864 |
| 1980-1990 | 42,437 |
| 1990-2000 | 40,763 |
| 2000-2010 | 29,702 |
| 2010-2019 | 17,154 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,002 |
Famous people named Catherine
- Catherine Hepburn: Actress
- Catherine O'Hara: Actress, Comedian
- Catherine Zeta-Jones: Actress
Nicknames
Cathy, Cat, Cate, Cath, Catie
Fun facts
- The name Catherine has been borne by Catherine the Great of Russia and three of King Henry VIII's wives.
- The traditional association with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure, was established in early Christian times.