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Katharine as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Katharine

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The baby name Katharine is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced KATH-ə-rin (IPA: /ˈkæθərɪn/).

Katharine is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: KATH-ə-rin (IPA: /ˈkæθərɪn/)

What is the meaning of the name Katharine ?

The baby name Katharine is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced KATH-ə-rin (IPA: /ˈkæθərɪn/).

Katharine is Greek in Origin.

Katharine is an English form of the Greek name Aikaterine, whose exact root is debated - possibly linked to the goddess Hecate or a Cretan name - yet long associated in Christian tradition with Greek katharos, “pure.” This pious reinterpretation introduced the -th- in medieval spellings (Katharine/Katherine) from Latin Katharina and Catharina. Devotion to St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Catherine of Siena propelled the name across medieval Europe, embedding it in English records from the 12th century onward.

Variants abound: Catherine and Katherine in English; Kathryn, Katheryn; German Katharina; Italian Caterina; Portuguese Catarina; Spanish Catalina; French Catherine; Polish Katarzyna; Russian/East Slavic Ekaterina/Yekaterina; Greek Katerina; Scandinavian/Slavic Katarina; Ukrainian Kateryna. Nicknames include Kate, Katie, Kat, Kitty, Kathy, Kay, and Kit. Enduring yet refined, Katharine enjoys literary and cultural stature through bearers such as Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Graham, and poet Katharine Lee Bates.

Katharine has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Katharine

Katharine Hepburn Actor · Born 1907 · United States Katharine Hepburn was a legendary American actress best known for her long, acclaimed career in film and theater and for playing intelligent, strong-willed women. She starred in classics like The Philadelphia Story, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and The African Queen, and became known for her independent spirit and distinctive screen presence. Katharine Ross Actor · Born 1940 · United States Katharine Ross is an American retired actress best known for films like The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Stepford Wives. Born on January 29, 1940, she earned major recognition during her career, including an Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Katharine McPhee Actor · Born 1984 · United States Katharine McPhee is an American singer and actress best known for finishing as the runner-up on season 5 of American Idol. She later starred in Smash and Scorpion, and she was born on March 25, 1984.
Katharine Isabelle Actor · Born 1981 · Canada Katharine Isabelle is a Canadian actress best known for her horror film work, especially Ginger Snaps, American Mary, and Freddy vs. Jason. Born Katharine Isobel Murray on 2 November 1981, she has often been described as a scream queen because of her many roles in the genre.

Celebrity babies named Katharine

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Katharine Richardson Tony Richardson film producer

Katharine – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2012 #1 970
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
EE Girls 0 #141 2 1,888
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
Canada Girls 2023 #275 5 2,824
SG 0 #281 2 11,010
TW Girls 0 #281 9 8,139
France Girls 1971 #309 3 1,352
DK Girls 0 #327 3 7,429
KZ Girls 0 #331 2 5,862
CN Girls 0 #332 18 8,829
HK 0 #337 12 8,483
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
BR 0 #357 4 5,969
MU Girls 0 #361 2 8,539
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
YE 0 #398 1 8,639
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
OM Girls 0 #421 4 15,987
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
CL 0 #432 3 6,867
ZA 0 #466 9 14,421
PT Girls 0 #469 3 7,952
RU Girls 0 #478 21 11,913
CO 0 #509 2 7,768
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
CR Girls 0 #520 13 11,342
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
PS Girls 0 #544 4 10,981
HK Girls 0 #558 58 16,104
KW Girls 0 #560 2 19,177
SG Girls 0 #564 23 18,916
BH 0 #586 2 17,937
AE Girls 0 #592 6 20,968
IL Girls 0 #643 3 11,648
BO Girls 0 #648 4 9,488
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
Finland Girls 2026 #726 13 3,895
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
Germany Girls 0 #809 30 4,949
NG Girls 0 #820 7 15,093
CL Girls 0 #837 15 14,098
United States Girls 2024 #889 28 8,487
BR Girls 0 #899 43 12,708
PE Girls 0 #929 15 14,861
MY Girls 0 #969 26 24,821
Spain Girls 0 #973 11 5,561
SA Girls 0 #1,011 4 25,931
ZA Girls 0 #1,117 25 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,147 6 16,140
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
MX Girls 0 #1,262 6 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,423 24 9,415

Katharine is popular in 52 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
United States
Ireland
France

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People also ask about Katharine

Katharine is predominantly a girl's name.
Katharine is a 3 syllable name, pronounced KATH-ə-rin (IPA: /ˈkæθərɪn/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Katharine, Katherine, Catherine, Catharine, Katheryn and Kathrine.
Across languages, Katharine has these equivalents: Aikaterini (Greek), Ekaterina (Russian), Katerina (Greek/Slavic), Caterina (Italian), Catalina (Spanish), and 5 more.
Yes, very popular — Katharine ranked #1 in Ireland in 2012, and appears in official birth registries across 6 countries.
Katharine ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2012).
Katharine's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #308 in 2013 to #275 in 2023 in Canada.
Yes — 4 notable people named Katharine are in our database, including Katharine Hepburn (Actor), Katharine Ross (Actor), Katharine McPhee (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Katharine for their child, including Tony Richardson.