[aikaterin] Katherine from the Greek name Aikaterina. It has been linked with Greek aikia "torture" but that theory is unlikely. It is possibly a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". The Romans derived it from Greek katharos "pure" and changed their spelling from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this. The name belonged to a Christian saint and martyr who was tortured on the famous Catherine wheel. This was the name of two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.