- Meaning
- Pure
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity
- Familiar (US top 1000)
- Style
- Classic, Sophisticated
- Used in
- English-speaking countries, French
Nicknames for Catherine
What friends, grandparents and the playground will call them, depending on where they grow up.
- English
- Kate, Katie, Cathy, Kitty
- French
- Cathy
What people expect from a Catherine
Catherine mixes soft and sharp sounds, so people tend to read it as steady and balanced.
The meaning is about kindness. A name can't give a child kindness, but it's a nice thing to explain to them one day.
A good fit if you hope for: a kind heart, a calm peacemaker.
Names set expectations, not personalities. What the research says.
Catherine: name scorecard
Save your future kid some trouble: give them a name they can live and grow with.
Great choice
Catherine · nickname: Kate, Cat
- International readabilityReads well across languages, "th" (no such sound in many languages).
- Easy to say and spellHarder: 4 syllables.
- Not too common, not too strangeThe sweet spot: familiar to everyone, but rarely a duplicate in the class.
- Playground-proofNo obvious rude words or rhymes. Kids are creative, though.
- Won't get you sued (or refused)Nothing a registrar would object to in most countries.
- A meaning to be proud ofMeans "Pure".
Names with a similar meaning
GraceLeahNaomiGenevieveHannahMilaClementineAmaraXimenaCatalina
More Greek names
Germans have a word for teachers' bias against children named Kevin: Kevinismus.
Kaiser (2009), University of OldenburgQuestions about Catherine
What does the name Catherine mean?
Catherine is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "Pure".
Is Catherine a boy or girl name?
Catherine is usually a girl's name.
How popular is the name Catherine?
Catherine is familiar in the US, without being common. It is used in English-speaking countries, French.
What are nicknames for Catherine?
Common nicknames for Catherine are Kate, Katie, Cathy and Kitty.
Fun, but true. Name meanings come from common etymologies, which sometimes disagree. Height and weight paths are estimates from population growth data and published studies, not a medical assessment. If you're worried about your child's growth, talk to your paediatrician. Full disclaimer