Katherine
Peaked at #25 nationally in 1991, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Katherine has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Katherine is a variant spelling of Catherine, sharing the same Greek "Aikaterine" root of uncertain ancient meaning, later folk-linked to "katharos" (pure). Its many spellings have kept the name broadly popular across generations.
Notable people & culture
Katherine peaked at #25 in 1991; mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose calculations helped launch NASA's early spaceflights and was later depicted in "Hidden Figures," is among its most celebrated namesakes.
Play with Katherine
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Katherine.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Katherine — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#25
in 1991
Current rank
#175
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Katherine reached its peak popularity for girls in 1991, ranking #25 nationally with 11,495 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #82 (2014) to #175 (2024) — a 53% drop.
As of 2024, Katherine ranks #175 nationally for girls, with 1,740 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #175 | 1,740 |
| 2023 | #170 | 1,703 |
| 2022 | #166 | 1,738 |
| 2021 | #157 | 1,819 |
| 2020 | #136 | 1,991 |
| 2019 | #120 | 2,450 |
| 2018 | #112 | 2,676 |
| 2017 | #105 | 2,861 |
Katherine — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#743
in 1904
Last ranked
#8385
in 2015
Years tracked
108
1880–2015
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Katherine reached its peak popularity for boys in 1904, ranking #743 nationally with 11 babies given the name that year.
Katherine hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 2015, when it stood at #8385.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #8,385 | 9 |
| 2014 | #10,194 | 7 |
| 2011 | #13,352 | 5 |
| 2009 | #13,501 | 5 |
| 2008 | #11,838 | 6 |
| 2007 | #10,349 | 7 |
| 2006 | #11,358 | 6 |
| 2005 | #5,737 | 14 |
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 Katherine most popular?
Katherine was most popular in 1991, when it ranked #25 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Katherine 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 Katherine?
At least 651,062 babies have been recorded with the name Katherine in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Katherine? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.