Catherine
Peaked at #18 nationally in 1914, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Catherine has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Catherine comes from the Greek "Aikaterine," a name of uncertain ancient origin that was later reshaped by folk association with "katharos," meaning "pure." It has been a favored name of European royalty for centuries.
Notable people & culture
Catherine peaked at #18 in 1914; it's been borne by Catherine the Great of Russia, Catherine of Aragon, and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, keeping it in continuous royal use across multiple countries and centuries.
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Catherine — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#18
in 1914
Current rank
#320
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Catherine reached its peak popularity for girls in 1914, ranking #18 nationally with 6,613 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #170 (2014) to #320 (2024) — a 47% drop.
As of 2024, Catherine ranks #320 nationally for girls, with 955 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #320 | 955 |
| 2023 | #330 | 933 |
| 2022 | #328 | 981 |
| 2021 | #323 | 1,004 |
| 2020 | #267 | 1,155 |
| 2019 | #241 | 1,312 |
| 2018 | #205 | 1,506 |
| 2017 | #198 | 1,584 |
Catherine — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#784
in 1884
Last ranked
#12668
in 2007
Years tracked
105
1884–2007
Trend
Falling
Catherine was already at its most popular for boys in 1884 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #784), with 7 babies given the name that year.
Catherine hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 2007, when it stood at #12668.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #12,668 | 5 |
| 2005 | #8,418 | 8 |
| 2004 | #6,589 | 11 |
| 2002 | #6,605 | 10 |
| 1999 | #6,620 | 9 |
| 1997 | #6,700 | 8 |
| 1996 | #5,235 | 11 |
| 1995 | #5,180 | 11 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Catherine most popular?
Catherine was most popular in 1914, when it ranked #18 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Catherine becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Catherine?
At least 668,624 babies have been recorded with the name Catherine in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Catherine? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.