Catarino

Meaning & origin

Catarino is a rare masculine name of Portuguese and Spanish origin, likely a variant of Catarina (the local form of Katherine) and associated with the meaning 'pure.' Its rarity is striking: in the most recent year of data (2025), the name ranked 12,008th and occurred with a frequency of just 1 in 341,615 births. The earliest recorded use in the Social Security data is 1896, and that year also marked its peak in popularity, after which it fell into obscurity. In recent years, however, the name has shown signs of a revival, with a rising trajectory since 2015. Despite its low numbers, Catarino has never been concentrated in any particular state; its recorded births are too sparse to show a top-state pattern. For parents drawn to historical, uncommon names, Catarino offers a distinctive choice with ties to the Iberian naming tradition.

Catarino is a masculine name that likely derives from Catarina, the Portuguese and Spanish form of Katherine, which itself comes from the Greek Aikaterine. The meaning of Katherine is debated, but it has long been associated with the Greek 'katharos,' meaning 'pure.' The name Catarino emerged as a diminutive or variant, primarily used in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities, though it remains rare.