Declining since 1990, #313 for girls today.
Popularity of Catherine since 1880
Babies named Catherine per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Catherine's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 8,915 |
| 1890s | 14,502 |
| 1900s | 22,006 |
| 1910s | 65,823 |
| 1920s | 78,881 |
| 1930s | 50,027 |
| 1940s | 62,086 |
| 1950s | 108,839 |
| 1960s | 76,788 |
| 1970s | 43,864 |
| 1980s | 42,437 |
| 1990s | 40,763 |
| 2000s | 29,702 |
| 2010s | 17,154 |
| 2020s | 6,002 |
Meaning & origin
Catherine is a name with a long history of use, currently ranked 313th for girls in the United States. In the most recent data for 2025, 1 in 1,654 baby girls were named Catherine. The name reached its highest popularity in 1914, and since 1990, its usage has been on a declining trajectory. Despite this fall, it remains a recognizable and well-used name. Its popularity varies by state, with the highest concentrations found in DC, AL, and KY. The name has been recorded in the United States since at least 1880, and its enduring presence reflects its deep historical roots. Catherine continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its classic sound and rich etymological background.
Catherine is the English form of the Greek name Aikaterine. The exact origin of Aikaterine is debated; it may derive from the Greek word 'katharos,' meaning 'pure.' Another theory links it to the goddess Hecate. The name spread widely in the Christian world due to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century martyr. It was introduced to England by the Normans and remained consistently popular. Variants like Katherine and Kathryn are common.
Where Catherine is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Catherine” around the world
Where Catherine lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Ireland
15
babies in 2025
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cathy, Kate, Katie, Kit, Kitty
Variants: Katherine, Kathryn, Catharine, Katharine, Katheryn, Cathryn
Sibling names for Catherine
Names that share Catherine's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Elizabeth, Margaret, Anne, Mary, Jane, Alexandria, Anastasia, Bernadette, Bridget, Christine, Clarissa, Dana, Diana, Elisabeth, Geneva, Harriet, Helena, Hilary, Jeanne, Jeannette, Marcella, Marian, Marianne, Patricia, Susanne, Teresa, Theresa, Victoria, Aileen, Alexandrea, Annamae, Annamarie, Annastasia, Bridgit, Brigid, Carlyn, Christiana, Corrina, Georgiana, Helene, Hellen, Janette, Jannette, Johanna, Justina, Lisamarie, Lizabeth, Madeleine, Magdalene, Margarette, Mariann, Maribeth, Maryanne, Marybelle, Marybeth, Maryellen, Maryjane, Maura, Nanci, Regina, Roseanna, Sarabeth, Suzanna, Terese, Therese, Analiese, Annmarie, Bethann, Bethanne, Brittan, Christiane, Christianne, Cristine, Dannielle, Dorthea, Elizbeth, Elizebeth, Isobel, Janeth, Jeanmarie, Johna, Magdalen, Magdaline, Mairead, Margarett, Maryalice, Maryanna, Marye, Maryelizabeth, Marygrace, Marylouise, Tereasa, Terresa, Theadora, Theressa, Thomasine, Thresa, Anelise, Angelea, Anjeanette, Anmarie, Annaclaire, Annarose, Annelle, Bridgitte, Catera, Deirdra, Dierdre, Dineen, Dorothe, Dorothie, Elizabethann, Ellinor, Elnore, Emilyann, Evamarie, Evangelia, Flannery, Graceann, Janneth, Jenavieve, Joane, Josepha, Lawren, Lisanne, Madalynne, Madelina, Magaret, Margart, Margeret, Mariane, Mariellen, Marybel, Maryclaire, Maryfrances, Maryhelen, Marykathryn, Meribeth, Reine, Roanne, Taresa, Threasa, Windsor, Alexandrina, Alexina, Alizon, Anabeth, Angelmarie, Annalis, Annamary, Annet, Cabrina, Carrin, Catrena, Christe, Dianah, Dorothee, Elizibeth, Emmajane, Gracemarie, Hannahmarie, Hazeline, Helayna, Hellena, Jacoba, Jannet, Jeannemarie, Josephene, Judithann, Lauraann, Leslieann, Lorianne, Magdelena, Magdelyn, Maragret, Margaretann, Margareth, Margaretmary, Marieann, Marilouise, Marrianne, Marthe, Maryclare, Marymargaret, Maryrose, Meganne, Rosamund, Rozanna, Saraann, Sarajane, Shena, Terasa, Teresea, Theresea, Briggette, Marialice, Sarahmarie, Thresea, Alyssabeth, Anniebell, Bridgitt, Bridie, Brigetta, Brigitt, Carolan, Corretta, Eleaner, Elizabth, Elizebath, Ellinore, Elynore, Erienne, Helyne, Jennet, Jenniferann, Joanmarie, Kathreen, Lysbeth, Marabeth, Marieanne, Maripat, Nickola, Phillipa, Rosemaria, Ruthmary, Therasa, Therisa, Thersea, Toniya, Tracyann
Brothers: William, Henry, Charles, James, Thomas, Barry, Brendan, Claude, Denis, Donald, Donovan, Francis, Franklin, Gerard, Gordon, John, Joseph, Kent, Laurence, Lawrence, Malcolm, Neal, Neil, Pat, Paul, Peter, Philip, Phillip, Richard, Simon, Stephen, Stuart, Wallace, Zachary, Christpher, Constantine, Doyle, Francois, Garret, Geoffrey, German, Jerome, Johnpaul, Kennith, Laurance, Nathanial, Pete, Stewart, Sylvester, Truman, Abriel, Alastair, Athanasios, Bartholomew, Calvert, Douglass, Erskine, Farrell, Garvin, Glennon, Graeme, Jamieson, Jhon, Joeseph, Johnmichael, Jonpaul, Keneth, Konstantinos, Lawrance, Matthews, Mick, Oneil, Philippe, Ramond, Roderic, Sebastien, Sherrod, Willaim, Agustine, Albertus, Aloys, Andreus, Andrews, Cantrell, Carlous, Carlus, Christophor, Colman, Dermot, Domnick, Donnald, Donold, Doyal, Ector, Egbert, Eldrick, Geoffry, Gilmore, Gorman, Hansford, Hebert, Johnanthony, Johnluke, Johnmark, Johnn, Keene, Kennieth, Loretto, Nickolus, Purcell, Raymund, Reginold, Richrd, Rickard, Roberts, Robet, Rodgers, Salvator, Anothony, Aurther, Christerpher, Constantin, Crystian, Dougles, Eugune, Geffrey, Gleason, Jenkins, Jeoffrey, Johnjoseph, Johnpatrick, Keefe, Kerney, Khristopher, Lyonel, Michaeljohn, Phillippe, Remiel, Ricahrd, Richad, Richar, Richerd, Ricke, Robertson, Stephenson, Tarron, Willim, Anthonyjames, Kinneth, Paulmichael, Andrewjames, Athanasius, Christophere, Davidjames, Davidlee, Donaldson, Jeanmarc, Johndaniel, Johnrobert, Malcomb, Manus, Paulanthony
Names like Catherine
Names whose popularity has moved with Catherine's over the last 50 years.
