Kathryn Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kathryn is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kathryn?
Kathryn is spelled K-A-T-H-R-Y-N. The name has 7 letters.
Kathryn at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Kathryn is a variant of Katherine, which is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning “pure.”
- Origin
- Kathryn is a variant spelling of Katherine, a name commonly associated with Greek origins.
- Pronunciation
- KATH-rin · 2 syllables
Kathryn Popularity in 2025
Rank#729
Recorded Births381
- Girls usage fell 15 places to #729 and recorded 12 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 Kathryn Mean?
Kathryn is a variant of Katherine, which is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning “pure.”
Origin: Kathryn is a variant spelling of Katherine, a name commonly associated with Greek origins.
How Do You Pronounce Kathryn?
PronunciationKATH-rin
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Kathryn?
- History
- The name Kathryn, as a spelling variant of Katherine, has been used in English-speaking countries and appears in multiple historical records and literature.
Kathryn Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2005 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 381 | #729 |
| 2024 | Girls | 393 | #714 |
| 2023 | Girls | 432 | #678 |
| 2022 | Girls | 452 | #655 |
| 2021 | Girls | 510 | #589 |
| 2020 | Girls | 574 | #525 |
| 2019 | Girls | 651 | #483 |
| 2018 | Girls | 699 | #452 |
| 2017 | Girls | 748 | #426 |
| 2016 | Girls | 839 | #396 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,021 | #318 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,118 | #292 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,184 | #270 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,230 | #264 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,339 | #235 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,370 | #230 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,520 | #213 |
| 2009 | Boys | 6 | #10,994 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,782 | #190 |
| 2007 | Girls | 2,216 | #163 |
| 2007 | Boys | 5 | #12,367 |
| 2006 | Girls | 2,420 | #143 |
| 2006 | Boys | 5 | #12,055 |
| 2005 | Girls | 2,579 | #125 |
When Was Kathryn 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.
1952 · Girls
8,504 recorded births
National rank #48
1951 · Girls
8,460 recorded births
National rank #45
1953 · Girls
8,324 recorded births
National rank #48
1954 · Girls
8,137 recorded births
National rank #51
Where Kathryn 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AL | #318 | 15 |
| SC | #347 | 14 |
| PA | #349 | 31 |
| MN | #422 | 12 |
| LA | #426 | 10 |
| TN | #497 | 15 |
| KY | #498 | 8 |
| MS | #514 | 5 |