What Does the Name Katherine Mean?

Katherine is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “traditionally interpreted as 'pure'.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Katherine
Gender	female
Origin	Greek
Meaning	traditionally interpreted as 'pure'
Variants	Catherine, Kathryn, Katharine, Catharine, Katarina
Popularity	An enduring classic; consistently in the U.S. top 200 for decades, though somewhat down from its mid-20th-century peak.

The meaning and origin of Katherine

The name Katherine means “traditionally interpreted as 'pure'” and has Greek origins. Katherine derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, of uncertain original meaning, later associated with the Greek 'katharos' ('pure'), which shaped its conventional sense. Borne by several saints including Catherine of Alexandria, it has been a staple European name for centuries.

Variants and related names

Katherine is related to several other names you may recognize: Catherine, Kathryn, Katharine, Catharine, Katarina. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Katherine?

An enduring classic; consistently in the U.S. top 200 for decades, though somewhat down from its mid-20th-century peak.

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