Katherine

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Katherine

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English.
Etymology:
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:
Katherine was brought to England by returning Crusaders in the Middle Ages. It’s first reference is is a Miracle Play of about 1100. Katerina appears in 1196, Kate in the 16th century, Kitty in the 18th, and Katie in the 19th.

Pronunciation: kath-rinn.

Diminutives: Catlee, Kaethe, Kaety, Kara, Karaugh, Kasen, Kassia, Katia, Kayla, Khara, Ina, Rina, Trina.
Dutch: Kaatje.
English: Cat, Cate, Catey, Cathey, Cathy, Kaite, Kat, Kate, Kath, Katha, Kathey, Kathi, Kathie, Kathy, Kati, Katie, Kattie, Katy, Kayte, Kit, Kitty.
Finnish: Katri.
French: Cathi, Cathia, Cathie.
German: Käthe, Katja, Kätchen.
Hawaiian: Kaki, Keke.
Hungarian: Kat, Kati.
Irish: Cait, Caitie.
Polish: Kachna, Kasia.
Russian: Katja, Katya, Katinka, Kiska.
Scottish: Ceit, Ceiteag, Caít, Tríona, Ríonal.
Spanish: Casta.
Swedish: Katina, Kata, Kajsa.
Welsh: Cati, Cadi.

Alternates: Catharina, Catherin, Catherina, Catheryn, Cathern, Cathrine, Cathryn, Cathryne, Catina, Katerine, Katharina, Katharyn, Katherin, Katherina, Kathern, Katheryn, Katheryne, Kathrin, Kathrine, Kathryn, Kathryne, Kathyrn.
Basque: Catalin, Katalin.
Breton: Katell, Katel, Katou.
Czech: Katerina.
Danish: Karen (SEE BELOW), Katrina, Katrine.
Dutch: Katrina, Katrien, Katrijn.
Finnish: Kaisa, Katrikki, Katrina.
French: Catherine.
French (Old): Catheline.
German: Katarine, Katharine, Katerina, Kathanna.
Greek (Modern): Aikaterine.
Hawaiian: Kakalina.
Hungarian: Katakin, Katalin, Katarina, Katoka, Katinka.
Irish: Caitlin, Caitlín, Caitlinn, Caitlyn, Caitria, Caitrin, Caitrín, Caitríona, Catharine, Catraoine, Kathleen (SEE BELOW).
Italian: Caterina.
Manx: Catreena.
Norwegian: Karen (SEE BELOW), Kari.
Polish: Katarzyna, Katarina, Katrine.
Portuguese: Catarina.
Russian: Ekaterina, Jekaterina, Yekaterina, Katerina, Katarina.
Scandinavian: Kaia.
Scottish: Katrina, Caitrìona, Catriona, Catrina, Catrìona.
Spanish: Catalina.
Swedish: Katarina, Karin, Karyn, Katrine.
Ukrainian: Katerina, Katrya.
Welsh: Catrin.

Alternates from Kathleen: Caitlynd, Cateline, Catelyn, Caitlan, Caitland, Caitlynn, Catlin, Catline, Catlyn, Cathleen, Kaitlen, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katelyn, Katelynn, Kathaleen, Katheleen, Kathlen, Kathlene, Kathline, Kathlyn, Katlin, Katlielyn, Katlyn, Katlynn, Kaytlin, Kaytlyn.

See also: Caitlín (Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katelyn, Katelynn), Catalina, Catherine (Catharine), Cathy, Catriona, Kaety, Karen (Karin), Karina, Kate, Kathleen, Kathryn (Kathrine, Cathryn, Katheryn), Kathy (Kathie), Katie (Katy), Katrina, Kitty.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Katherine Tynan (1861-1931)
Irish poet and novelist.
Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945)
German artist.
Yekaterina Vasilyevna Geltzer (1876-1962)
Russian ballerina.
Katharine Elizabeth Fullerton Gerould (1879-1944)
American writer.
Katherine Susannah Prichard (1883-1969)
Australian novelist.
Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923)
New Zealand writer.
Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980)
American novelist.
Katherine Dunham (1910-)
American choreographer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Katharine Bement Davis (1860-1935)
American social worker.
Katherine Pettit (1868-1936)
American settlement worker in Kentucky.
Katherine Philips Edson (1870-1933)
American reformer and suffragette.
Katharine Anthony (1877-1965)
American biographer.
Katherine Amelia Towle (1898-1986)
American educator and first director of women’s marines.
Katherine Siva Saubel (1920-)
Native American scholar and educator.

Fictional Characters:
Kitty Bennet
From the novel Pride and Prejudice.

Miscellaneous:
Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929)
Author of “America the Beautiful.”
Kitty Godfree (1896-1992)
British tennis player.
Katharine Graham (1917-)
American magazine owner.
Katarina Witt (1965-)
German figure skater.

Places:
Katherine
Australia
Santa Catarina
Brazil

Political Figures:
Yekaterina Dmitiriyevna Kuskova (1869-1958)
Opposed the Bolsheviks.

Religious Figures:
Saint Katherine of Alexandria (4th century)
An early martyr broken on the wheel. May not have existed.

Scientists:
Katherine Esau (1898-1997)
Russian-American botanist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Katharine Cornell (1893-1974)
American actress.
Katina Paxinou (1900-1973)
Greek actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.667 % named Karen
0.424 % named Kathleen
0.373 % named Catherine
0.313 % named Katherine
0.272 % named Kathy
0.234 % named Kathryn
0.137 % named Cathy
0.113 % named Katie
0.061 % named Katrina
0.029 % named Kate
0.023 % named Karin
0.023 % named Caitlin
0.017 % named Cathleen
0.017 % named Katharine
0.014 % named Catalina
0.012 % named Katy
0.011 % named Kathrine
0.011 % named Kathie
0.010 % named Katelyn
0.009 % named Cathryn
0.009 % named Karyn
0.009 % named Katina
0.009 % named Katheryn
0.008 % named Kaitlyn
0.008 % named Kathi
0.008 % named Kitty
0.007 % named Catrina
0.006 % named Cathrine
0.006 % named Catharine
0.004 % named Caitlyn
0.004 % named Catina
0.004 % named Cathie
0.003 % named Cathi
0.003 % named Kathlene
0.003 % named Kathlyn
0.003 % named Kathryne
0.003 % named Kathyrn
0.002 % named Cathey
0.002 % named Caterina
0.002 % named Catarina
0.002 % named Kattie
0.002 % named Katharina
0.002 % named Kati
0.002 % named Kathaleen
0.002 % named Katherin
0.002 % named Kathern
0.002 % named Katlyn
0.002 % named Kathey
0.002 % named Kathe
0.002 % named Katia
0.001 % named Cathern
0.001 % named Catheryn
0.001 % named Catherin
0.001 % named Catherina
0.001 % named Cathie
0.001 % named Karena
0.001 % named Kathrin
0.001 % named Katelynn
0.001 % named Katelin
0.001 % named Katheleen
0.001 % named Katharyn
0.001 % named Kathline
0.001 % named Katerine
0.001 % named Katherina
0.001 % named Kit

Popularity of Katherine:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 156th most popular.
1875: 272nd most popular.
1900-1910: 52rd most popular.
1910-1920: 49th most popular.
1920-1930: 63rd most popular.
1930-1940: 102nd most popular.
1940-1950: 73rd most popular.
1950-1960: 68th most popular.
1960-1970: 78th most popular.
1970-1980: 53rd most popular.
1980-1990: 32nd most popular.
1990: 25th most popular.
1991: 23rd most popular.
1992: 27th most popular.
1993: 28th most popular.
1994: 29th most popular.
1995: 30th most popular.
1996: 30th most popular.
1997: 31st most popular.
1998: 33rd most popular.
1999: 35th most popular.
2000: 34th most popular.
2001: 36th most popular.
2002: 36th most popular.
2003: 36th most popular.

Popularity of Katharine:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 178th most popular.
1875: 249th most popular.
1900-1910: 301st most popular.
1910-1920: 364th most popular.
1920-1930: 401st most popular.
1930-1940: 540th most popular.
1940-1950: 465th most popular.
1950-1960: 541st most popular.
1960-1970: 584th most popular.
1970-1980: 486th most popular.
1980-1990: 338th most popular.
1990: 418th most popular.
1991: 388th most popular.
1992: 377th most popular.
1993: 400th most popular.
1994: 483rd most popular.
1995: 527th most popular.
1996: 548th most popular.
1997: 567th most popular.
1998: 542nd most popular.
1999: 714th most popular.
2000: 675th most popular.
2001: 732nd most popular.
2002: 821st most popular.
2003: 710th most popular.

Popularity of Katina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 321st most popular.
1980-2000: N/A