Given name
Katharine
“one who is pure; virginal”
Katharine has a related form in Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Katharine has a related form in Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Katharine possibly comes from Ancient Greek.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How it developed
Katharine is used as a variant of Katherine.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Katharine has a related form in Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Katharine through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 41,241
- 11 boys · 41,230 girls
- Most popular year
- 1982
- 946 babies
- 2025
- 27
- #4,935 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −46%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 27 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,935 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 46.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 946 in 1982. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 29,372 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Katharine’s family of names
In English usage, Katharine has a diminutive in Kat. Katharine shares a linguistic root with Katherine. In English usage, Katharine has an alternative spelling in Catherine.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Katharine has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
5 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Katharine
- Katharine HepburnAmerican actress (1907–2003)
- Katharine RossAmerican actressborn 1940
- Katharine GrahamAmerican publisher, editor and author1917–2001
- Katharine McPheeAmerican recording artist, singer and songwriterborn 1984
- Katharine, Duchess of Kentmember of the British royal family (1933–2025)
- Katharine IsabelleCanadian actressborn 1981
- Katharine Burr BlodgettAmerican physicist (1898-1979)
- Katharine Lee BatesAmerican poet and songwriter (1859-1929)
- Katharine CornellAmerican actress, theatre manager and producer (1893-1974)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Katharine, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Candace
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Katheryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Katarina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Katrina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Vasiliki
“royalty” · “royal”
>99% girls
Cleopatra
“a father's glory; of the royal family”
>99% girls
Caesaria
“an empress” · “an emperor; having a full head of hair”
>99% girls