Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1989

Catharina

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #8,979
Rank 2025
#8,979
among girls · ↑6,765 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
11
named Catharina
How common
1 in 146,115
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1989
14 babies
All-time total
332
#15,088 all-time among girls
First recorded
1948
in Social Security records

Catharina popularity over time

332 babies have been named Catharina since 1948, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1989Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s 5 1 – #5,335
1950s 15 2 +200% #4,423
1960s 49 5 +227% #4,944
1970s 55 6 +12% #5,049
1980s 39 4 -29% #5,888
1990s 63 6 +62% #8,162
2000s 46 5 -27% #10,267
2010s 16 2 -65% #14,507
2020s (to 2025) 44 7 +358% #8,979

The story of Catharina

Catharina is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,979 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1948, 332 American babies have been named Catharina. Its peak came in 1989, when 14 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Catharina stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Catharina?

The median living Catharina is about 34 years old; half are between 20 and 52. An estimated 300 people named Catharina are alive in the United States today.

median 34 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Catharina year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 11 #8,979
2024 5 #15,744
2023 8 #11,387
2022 6 #13,948
2021 9 #10,457
2020 5 #15,595
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 6 #14,507
2016 5 #16,771
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 5 #17,068
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 5 #17,835
2008 – –
2007 6 #15,873
2006 7 #13,879
2005 8 #12,043
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 6 #13,922
2001 9 #10,267
2000 5 #15,475
1995 8 #9,724
1990 5 #13,294
1985 – –
1980 6 #9,250
1975 7 #7,263
1970 6 #7,171
1965 7 #5,352
1960 6 #5,787
1955 8 #4,423
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Catharina

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Catharina of Württemberg Catharina of Württemberg Queen of Westphalia from 1807 to 1813 1783–1835 · 18th century
  2. 2 Catharina van Hemessen Catharina van Hemessen Flemish Renaissance painter 1528–1600 · 16th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Catharina, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Catharina?

The median living Catharina is about 34 years old. Half of all living Catharinas are between 20 and 52 years old.

How many people named Catharina are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Catharina are alive in the United States, based on 332 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Catharina in 2025?

Catharina ranked #8,979 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Catharina?

332 babies have been named Catharina in the United States since 1948, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Catharina most popular?

Catharina peaked in 1989, when 14 newborns received the name.

Is Catharina a boy or girl name?

Catharina is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Catharina rising or falling?

Catharina is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Catharina?

Well-known people named Catharina include Catharina of Württemberg (companion), Catharina van Hemessen (painter).

Names like Catharina

Names that sound and feel close to Catharina: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Catharina with similar names → More names starting with C →