Kathern
Kathern is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Kathern is a rare English phonetic variant of the name Katherine, deriving from the Greek word katharos. Historically used in the United States during the early-to-mid 20th century, it has become virtually obsolete in modern birth records. It offers a vintage, folk-spelled alternative to classic names like Catherine or Katherine.
Popularity in the United States
3,323 babies in the United States have been named Kathern since 1880. It ranks #3081 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- WV (27 %)
- KY (20.7 %)
- CA (9.5 %)
- OH (8.6 %)
- OK (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 21 |
| 1890-1900 | 29 |
| 1900-1910 | 76 |
| 1910-1920 | 227 |
| 1920-1930 | 422 |
| 1930-1940 | 465 |
| 1940-1950 | 503 |
| 1950-1960 | 743 |
| 1960-1970 | 348 |
| 1970-1980 | 232 |
| 1980-1990 | 151 |
| 1990-2000 | 90 |
| 2000-2010 | 16 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Kathy, Katie, Kate, Kay
Fun facts
- Kathern developed as a phonetic spelling reflecting regional pronunciations of Katherine in English-speaking communities.
- Most U.S. usage occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries before falling completely out of modern popularity.