A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Katherina since 1889
Babies named Katherina per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1991, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Katherina's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 50 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 47 |
| 1920s | 45 |
| 1930s | 22 |
| 1940s | 27 |
| 1950s | 123 |
| 1960s | 235 |
| 1970s | 186 |
| 1980s | 200 |
| 1990s | 309 |
| 2000s | 174 |
| 2010s | 147 |
| 2020s | 108 |
Meaning & origin
Katherina is a historic variant of Katherine that has maintained a quiet presence for over a century. First recorded in 1889, it saw its peak popularity in 1892. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 2010, reflecting a broader revival of classic names from the 1890s. With a current frequency of 1 in 80,363 births, it remains a distinctive choice. Though it has no top states of particular concentration, its revival suggests a modest but steady resurgence.
Katherina is a variant of Katherine, which ultimately derives from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning is uncertain but traditionally interpreted as 'pure' from the Greek word katharos. Katherina gained popularity through early Christian saints, most notably Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The variant spelling with an 'h' after the 't' is common in German and Slavic languages.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kat, Kathy, Rina, Trina
Variants: Catherine, Katherine, Katharina, Katerina, Katrina
Sibling names for Katherina
Names that share Katherina's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Margaret, Elizabeth, Rosalind, Beatrice, Evangeline
Brothers: Alexander, Benjamin, Christopher, Nathaniel, Sebastian
