Katharine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Katharine has Greek origins, meaning 'pure'. It evolved through various forms in different languages, retaining its core meaning. Historically, it became popular due to saints and has a classic image today. There is no biblical relevance associated with it.
The name Katharine is most popular in Connecticut, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the Northeast 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 maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Katharine has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled 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, 'Katharine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 13786th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 355th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 500th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 497th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 517th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 359th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 896th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2825th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Katharine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Katharine"
Pronunciation
/ˈkæθəraɪn/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Katharine derives from the Greek word 'katharos', meaning 'pure'. It has been associated with several early saints, particularly Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Meaning
pure
Language Evolution
Catherine (French), Katherine (Old French), Catarina (Portuguese), Caterina (Italian)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages, largely due to the veneration of Saint Catherine, and it has remained a common name in various cultures.
Variants & Derivatives
Catherine, Katherine, Kate, Kitty, Kat
Modern Popularity & Image
Katharine is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with intelligence and sophistication.
Famous People
Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Graham, Katharine of Aragon
Explore More Katharine Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Katharine"
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 "Katharine"
"Katharine" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 13786th of 16616 | 11 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 355th of 9107 | 6,135 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 500th of 9204 | 3,580 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 497th of 12526 | 6,563 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 517th of 19264 | 6,012 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 359th of 27321 | 11,424 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 896th of 35406 | 4,432 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2825th of 30306 | 724 |
Regional Popularity of "Katharine" 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 "Katharine" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
26.55% 376th/1416 |
16.97% 234th/1379 |
21.01% 497th/2366 |
35.46% 405th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
31.95% 494th/1546 |
20.57% 320th/1556 |
30.94% 728th/2353 |
31.74% 491st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
22.77% 507th/2227 |
14.57% 354th/2430 |
21.56% 615th/2853 |
18.45% 512th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
16.65% 489th/2937 |
11.97% 417th/3483 |
17.51% 616th/3518 |
13.72% 555th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
8.85% 326th/3685 |
5.54% 248th/4475 |
8.22% 427th/5194 |
6.79% 429th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
19.01% 871st/4582 |
11.68% 603rd/5164 |
14.43% 1055th/7313 |
14.44% 1078th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.92% 3184th/3984 |
53.26% 2390th/4487 |
47.39% 3233rd/6822 |
45.43% 2851st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Katharine"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Katharine" 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.