Katherine Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Katherine is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Katherine?
Katherine is spelled K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E. The name has 9 letters.
Katherine at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Katherine is commonly believed to mean “pure”, though the exact etymology is uncertain and debated.
- Origin
- Katherine is typically associated with Greek origin, possibly deriving from the name Aikaterine, but the precise etymology is unclear.
- Pronunciation
- KATH-rin · 2 syllables
Katherine Popularity in 2025
Rank#186
Recorded Births1,670
- Girls usage fell 11 places to #186 and recorded 76 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Katherine Mean?
Katherine is commonly believed to mean “pure”, though the exact etymology is uncertain and debated.
Origin: Katherine is typically associated with Greek origin, possibly deriving from the name Aikaterine, but the precise etymology is unclear.
How Do You Pronounce Katherine?
PronunciationKATH-rin
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Katherine?
- History
- The name Katherine has been used in various forms since medieval times in Europe and has appeared in historical texts and religious contexts.
Katherine Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2007 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,670 | #186 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,746 | #175 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,705 | #170 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,742 | #166 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,821 | #157 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,991 | #136 |
| 2019 | Girls | 2,450 | #120 |
| 2018 | Girls | 2,677 | #112 |
| 2017 | Girls | 2,861 | #105 |
| 2016 | Girls | 3,276 | #91 |
| 2015 | Girls | 3,454 | #84 |
| 2015 | Boys | 9 | #8,040 |
| 2014 | Girls | 3,691 | #82 |
| 2014 | Boys | 7 | #9,642 |
| 2013 | Girls | 3,723 | #77 |
| 2012 | Girls | 3,953 | #64 |
| 2011 | Girls | 4,189 | #61 |
| 2011 | Boys | 5 | #12,287 |
| 2010 | Girls | 3,870 | #70 |
| 2009 | Girls | 4,432 | #60 |
| 2009 | Boys | 5 | #12,491 |
| 2008 | Girls | 5,350 | #45 |
| 2008 | Boys | 6 | #11,037 |
| 2007 | Girls | 5,818 | #39 |
When Was Katherine Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1990 · Girls
11,625 recorded births
National rank #26
1991 · Girls
11,495 recorded births
National rank #25
1989 · Girls
11,415 recorded births
National rank #26
1988 · Girls
11,154 recorded births
National rank #27
Where Katherine Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #73 | 9 |
| AL | #78 | 51 |
| SC | #95 | 44 |
| MS | #107 | 21 |
| NC | #124 | 81 |
| KY | #125 | 35 |
| TX | #139 | 229 |
| TN | #144 | 52 |