Catherine

Updated: October 13, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Catherine is a traditional and timeless baby girl’s name meaning “pure.” Catherine is the English and French spelling of the Greek name Katherine. Catherine has been the name of countless royals over the centuries, including Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William.

Meaning and Origin of the name Catherine:

Catherine is an English girl's name of Greek origin meaning “pure.”

Catherine is the French and English spelling of the Greek name Aikaterine, which was influenced by the Greek word katharos (meaning “pure”). The name Catherine was spread by the early Christian church with the meaning of “pure.” The name first became widely spread because crusaders shared a story of a saint with this name in the fourth century who was tortured for Christianity.

Symbolism of the name Catherine:

Purity is often associated with the color white as well as several beautiful flowers including daisies, magnolias, and lilies.

Nicknames for the name Catherine:

Catherine is a very elegant sounding name for girls. It has several nicknames that are cute and adorable. Below is a list of nicknames for Catherine that you may want to use for your baby girl.

Cat
Catie
Cath
Cathy
Cathie
Cate
Catey
Cayte

Style of the name Catherine:

Traditional

Gender of the name Catherine:

Catherine is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Catherine:

KATH-ə-rin, KATH-rin (English), KA-TU-REEN, KA-TREEN (French)

Number of syllables in the name Catherine:

two or three, depending on pronunciation

Emotion evoked from the name Catherine:

Catherine evokes feelings of refinement and grace.

Alternative spellings for the name Catherine:

Popularity of the name Catherine:

According to the Social Security Administration, Catherine has been popular in the US since 1900. It was in the top 100 girls’ names between 1900 and 1997. Since then it has declined in popularity and ranks #267 in 2020.