Given name
Katherina
“one who is pure; virginal”
Katherina is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Katherina is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Katherina is a variant of 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
Katherina through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,683
- 0 boys · 1,683 girls
- Most popular year
- 1991
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #6,014 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +18%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,014 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 46 in 1991. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,838 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.
Katherina’s family of names
Katherina has a related form in Katherine. In German usage, Katherina has a related form in Katharina. In English usage, Katherina has a conventional equivalent in the German form Katharina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Katherina
- Katherina ReicheGerman politicianborn 1973
- Princess Katharina of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-SchillingsfürstGerman princess (1817–1893)
- Katherine of BavariaMedieval noblewomen (14th century)1358–1400
- Katherina KubenkCanadian freestyle skierborn 1970
- Katharina of Nassau-BeilsteinCountess consort and later regent of Hanau
- Katherina HetzeldorferExecuted German female homosexual1401–1477
- Katherina Matousekfigure skaterborn 1964
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Katherina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Katarina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kathrina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Katheryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Kathryne
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kimberlyn
“of the royal fortress”
>99% girls
Katy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kindra
“having royal power; from the high hill”
>99% girls