Kate Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kate has its origins in Greek, meaning 'pure'. It evolved from Aikaterine through several forms including Catherine and Katherine before becoming Kate in Modern English. The name is often associated with elegance and simplicity and has gained popularity since the Middle Ages, partly due to the influence of Saint Catherine. There are several variants of the name, and it is currently perceived positively, linked to several notable figures.
The name Kate is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kate has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Kate' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6687th out of 7545 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8221st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9103rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 16994th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 350th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 724th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 828th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 433rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 251st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 184th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 305th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kate' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kate"
Pronunciation
/keɪt/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Kate is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, which is believed to be related to the word 'katharos', meaning 'pure'.
Meaning
pure
Language Evolution
Aikaterine (Greek), Catherine (Latin), Catarina (Old French), Katherine (Middle English), Kate (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Variants & Derivatives
Catherine, Katherine, Kit, Katie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Kate is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with sophistication and simplicity.
Famous People
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Winslet, actress, Kate Bush, singer-songwriter
Explore More Kate Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kate"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kate"
"Kate" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6687th of 7545 | 10 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8221st of 10718 | 16 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9103rd of 16616 | 42 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 16994th of 24088 | 21 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 350th of 9107 | 6,314 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 724th of 9204 | 1,793 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 828th of 12526 | 2,751 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 433rd of 19264 | 7,801 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 251st of 27321 | 18,162 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 184th of 35406 | 29,125 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 305th of 30306 | 12,973 |
Regional Popularity of "Kate" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Kate" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
47.18% 668th/1416 |
26.98% 372nd/1379 |
12.60% 298th/2366 |
64.80% 740th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
89.07% 1377th/1546 |
41.39% 644th/1556 |
23.97% 564th/2353 |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
39.20% 873rd/2227 |
25.76% 626th/2430 |
33.93% 968th/2853 |
30.63% 850th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
12.67% 372nd/2937 |
8.07% 281st/3483 |
21.43% 754th/3518 |
12.27% 496th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.59% 206th/3685 |
3.24% 145th/4475 |
7.70% 400th/5194 |
5.07% 320th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.88% 178th/4582 |
3.14% 162nd/5164 |
3.08% 225th/7313 |
2.18% 163rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
7.40% 295th/3984 |
8.74% 392nd/4487 |
4.47% 305th/6822 |
4.05% 254th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kate"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kate" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.