Katherine
How to say it: KATH-uh-rin · /ˈkæθərɪn/
From Greek Aikaterine, possibly linked to katharos meaning 'pure'.
Katherine was the 104th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,670 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 52% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #158 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #104 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,670 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,071 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −52% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #158 |
| In France, 2025 | #894 among girls’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established before its high in the 1980s, Katherine has grown rarer since. It now stands far below that peak and should slip further over the next few years.
What goes with it
Soft and breathy with royal and saintly history, Katherine feels graceful across borders. Kate makes a natural shortening, while Elizabeth moves in a similar classic lane.
Middle names that flow with Katherine →
Parents who love Katherine also love
Nicknames
- Kate
- Katie
- Kat
- Kathy
- Kay
- Kit
Honouring a Katherine in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Katherine is about 1 in 45.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Greek.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Katherine
- Katherine Heigl (born 1978)American actress
- Katherine Maher (born 1983)Chief executive officer and president of National Public Radio
- Katherine Johnson (1918–2020)African-American mathematician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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