Holding steady.
Popularity of Kathreen since 1912
Babies named Kathreen per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1950, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kathreen's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 20 |
| 1920s | 33 |
| 1930s | 16 |
| 1940s | 62 |
| 1950s | 80 |
| 1960s | 46 |
| 1970s | 23 |
| 1980s | 53 |
| 1990s | 33 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kathreen is a less common spelling variant of the enduring classic Katherine. The name first entered U.S. birth records in 1912, the same year it reached its peak usage. While it has never appeared in the national top 1,000 rankings, its scarcity may appeal to parents seeking a familiar sound with a distinctive spelling. The trajectory of the name has been stable over the decades, with no recent upswing in popularity. This spelling variation retains the core pronunciation and heritage of Katherine, a name with centuries of history across the English-speaking world.
Kathreen is a spelling variant of Katherine, which derives from the Greek Aikaterinē. The name was early associated with the Greek katharos meaning 'pure.' It entered English via French and Latin, with many spelling variations emerging over centuries. Kathreen was recorded in the United States as early as 1912.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kathy, Kat, Katie, Rena
Sibling names for Kathreen
Names that share Kathreen's style, for a brother or sister.
