Catalina

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Catalina

Gender: Feminine
Language: Spanish
Etymology:
Catalina is an alternate form of Catarina, an early Spanish form of the name known in English as Katherine. Katherine is a blend of the (possibly) Coptic name Aikaterina and the Greek word “katharos” (pure). Possibly connected with the Greek word “aikia” (torture) or the goddess of the underworld named Hecate.

History:
Although St. Katherine was one of the more popular saints in medieval Europe, the name Catalina did not become popular in Spain until the 15th century.

Catalina was introduced to the United States by the Spanish-speaking settlers of the Southwest, although it was not all that common among them.

Please see Katherine for more information.

Pronunciation: cat-ah-lee-nah.

Diminutives: Casta, Lina.

Alternates: Katalina, Cataline.
Basque: Catalin, Katalin.

Famous Bearers:
Places:
Santa Catalina Island
California

Royalty:
Catalina de Aragon (Catherine of Aragon) (1485-1536)
First wife of Henry VIII of England. He divorced her when she failed to provide a son.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.014 % named Catalina

Popularity of Catalina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 570th most popular.
1910-1920: 565th most popular.
1920-1930: 482nd most popular.
1930-1940: 506th most popular.
1940-1950: 783rd most popular.
1950-1990: N/A
1990: 836th most popular.
1991: 820th most popular.
1992: 818th most popular.
1993: 831st most popular.
1994: 779th most popular.
1995: 917th most popular.
1996: 836th most popular.
1997: 856th most popular.
1998: N/A
1999: 822nd most popular.
2000: 744th most popular.
2001: 747th most popular.
2002: 774th most popular.
2003: 751st most popular.