Girl’s name · English, Greek

Kathryn

How to say it: KATH-rin · /ˈkæθrɪn/

English variant spelling of Katherine/Catherine, from Greek 'katharos' meaning 'pure'.

Kathryn was the 104th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 381 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, 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

#104for girls in 2025
1 in 1,071US babies
381born in 2025
#158projected for 2030
1950sits peak decade
1 in 45chance a classmate shares it

Key facts

Key facts about Kathryn
Rank among girls’ names, 2025#104
Babies born in 2025381
Share of births1 in 1,071
Peak decade1950s
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

Midcentury was the moment for Kathryn with a peak in the 1950s. Now far below that height, more decline is expected.

1900195020002020–25
Peak: 4,068 per million births, 1950s.

What goes with it

Breathy and measured in two syllables heard as KATH rin with saintly and royal history. Elizabeth and Margaret pair naturally.

In the classroom

In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kathryn is about 1 in 45.

Around the world

This spelling is used in English, Greek.

In France: #894 for girls in 2025.

Famous people named Kathryn

From Wikidata and Wikipedia

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