Girl · Greek; origin uncertain · Christian
Catherine
CatherineSay it KATH-rin
- Meaning today
- Pure
- Original meaning
- "of uncertain origin; later linked with Greek katharos, pure" Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, G2513
- Say it
- KATH-rin
- Other spellings
- Katherine, Kathryn, Catharine
Catherine
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Catherine meaning
Catherine is a Christian girl's name.
Meaning today
Pure
Original Greek; origin uncertain meaning
"of uncertain origin; later linked with Greek katharos, pure"
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, G2513 · entry katharos · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Catherine comes from the Greek name Aikaterinē, and nobody knows for certain what it first meant. From early Christian times it was linked with the Greek word katharos, which Strong's Concordance gives as clean, clear and pure, and the spelling was changed to Katharina to match; the English forms with -th- follow from this. That is why name lists today give "pure", but scholars treat the link as a later association rather than the name's origin. The name spread through Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr venerated as patron of philosophers and scholars, though Britannica notes that her story is historically doubtful. In India it is used in Christian families, and Kate and Cathy are short forms.
References: Strong's Greek 2513, katharos (Bible Hub) · Wikipedia, Katherine · Britannica, St. Catherine of Alexandria
Famous namesakes
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria, early Christian martyr
Popularity abroad
- #314 United States, girls 2025 (up 10 from 324 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #590 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Catherine · Katherine · Kathryn · Catharine