Hannah Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#56
Catherine
GirlGreek· “often said to mean 'pure'”
- Meaning
- often said to mean 'pure' (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- KATH-rin
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #314
- US babies 2025
- 972
- Best rank
- #18 (1914)
- Peak year
- 1956
Meaning and origin of Catherine
Catherine is often said to mean “often said to mean 'pure'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek roots.
Catherine comes from the Greek Aikaterine, a name whose true origin is unknown. Early Christians connected it with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure, and that link produced the spelling with -th-, though scholars treat it as a later association rather than the source. The legendary martyr Saint Catherine of Alexandria made the name popular across medieval Europe. Royal bearers include Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, and Catherine the Great of Russia. Few names have as many forms: Katherine, Kathryn, Caterina, Katarina and Ekaterina. Kate, Katie, Cat and Cathy give plenty of nickname options.
Popularity over time
Catherine has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #18 in 1914, and the most babies received it in 1956, when 12,056 were named Catherine. In 2025, 972 babies were named Catherine, and it ranked #314 nationally. That is 46% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #21 in 1920, #34 in 1950, #77 in 1980, #81 in 2000, #194 in 2010, and #314 in 2025. Of the 667,789 US girls named Catherine since records began, 16% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 78,881 babies. Since 2010, 23,156 more have been named Catherine.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Connie, Diana, Ann, Lynn, and Wanda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Catherine ranked highest in District of Columbia, Alabama, and Kentucky.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #97 | 8 |
| Alabama | #156 | 28 |
| Kentucky | #176 | 26 |
| North Carolina | #183 | 58 |
| Connecticut | #226 | 15 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Catherine is usually pronounced KATH-rin, with three syllables. It has nine letters, starts with C and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Catherine
A few middle names that flow with Catherine: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Catherine
Similar names
Katherine Girl
KATH-ur-ihn
“uncertain; often linked to pure” · Greek
#186
Irene Girl
eye-REEN
“peace” · Greek
#651
Margaret Girl
MAHR-gur-iht
“pearl” · Greek
#112
Anne Girl
AN
“grace, favor” · French
#619
Theresa Girl
tuh-REE-suh
“uncertain; perhaps 'harvest'” · Greek
#1,559
Melanie Girl
MEH-luh-nee
“dark, black” · Greek
#142
Angela Girl
AN-juh-luh
“angel, messenger” · Latin
#408
Madeleine Girl
MAD-uh-lin
“woman from Magdala” · French
#455
Teresa Girl
tuh-REE-suh
“uncertain; possibly harvester” · Spanish
#911
Barbara Girl
BAR-bruh
“foreign woman” · Greek
#968
Persephone Girl
pur-SEF-uh-nee
Greek
#735
Theadora Girl
thee-uh-DAWR-uh
“variant of Theodora, gift of God” · Greek
#2,170
Lists that include Catherine
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Catherine mean?
Catherine is often said to mean “often said to mean 'pure'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Catherine?
Catherine has Greek roots. Catherine comes from the Greek Aikaterine, a name whose true origin is unknown.
Is Catherine a popular name?
Yes. Catherine ranked #314 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Catherine a boy or girl name?
Catherine is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Catherine?
Catherine is usually pronounced KATH-rin. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings