Katharine
A variant spelling of Catherine, based on the folk etymology that it would derive from Greek καθαρός (katharos "pure").
Every Katharine since 1880 — 41,241 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Katharine
Katharine is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,935 in 2025 with 27 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 41,241 American babies have been named Katharine. Its peak came in 1982, when 946 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 Katharine stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Katharine year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #4,935 | — | — |
| 2024 | 28 | #4,828 | — | — |
| 2023 | 34 | #4,238 | — | — |
| 2022 | 42 | #3,680 | — | — |
| 2021 | 31 | #4,455 | — | — |
| 2020 | 45 | #3,427 | — | — |
| 2019 | 66 | #2,638 | — | — |
| 2018 | 56 | #2,946 | — | — |
| 2017 | 73 | #2,476 | — | — |
| 2016 | 62 | #2,784 | — | — |
| 2015 | 89 | #2,146 | — | — |
| 2014 | 89 | #2,147 | — | — |
| 2013 | 109 | #1,857 | — | — |
| 2012 | 110 | #1,844 | — | — |
| 2011 | 134 | #1,615 | — | — |
| 2010 | 127 | #1,674 | — | — |
| 2009 | 160 | #1,460 | — | — |
| 2008 | 191 | #1,305 | — | — |
| 2007 | 256 | #1,032 | — | — |
| 2006 | 293 | #907 | — | — |
| 2005 | 301 | #842 | — | — |
| 2004 | 323 | #790 | — | — |
| 2003 | 375 | #697 | — | — |
| 2002 | 286 | #809 | — | — |
| 2001 | 334 | #728 | — | — |
| 2000 | 362 | #669 | — | — |
| 1995 | 465 | #520 | — | — |
| 1990 | 647 | #401 | — | — |
| 1985 | 841 | #293 | 5 | #7,076 |
| 1980 | 572 | #397 | — | — |
| 1975 | 345 | #517 | — | — |
| 1970 | 409 | #491 | — | — |
| 1965 | 285 | #566 | — | — |
| 1960 | 304 | #562 | — | — |
| 1955 | 416 | #440 | — | — |
| 1950 | 373 | #415 | — | — |
| 1945 | 282 | #424 | — | — |
| 1940 | 160 | #544 | — | — |
| 1935 | 170 | #484 | — | — |
| 1930 | 205 | #469 | — | — |
| 1925 | 236 | #453 | — | — |
| 1920 | 349 | #351 | — | — |
| 1915 | 344 | #319 | — | — |
| 1910 | 157 | #307 | — | — |
| 1905 | 121 | #306 | — | — |
| 1900 | 141 | #273 | — | — |
| 1895 | 145 | #229 | — | — |
| 1890 | 119 | #226 | — | — |
| 1885 | 78 | #223 | — | — |
| 1880 | 76 | #172 | — | — |
Famous people named Katharine
- Katharine Hepburn Actor · 1907–2003
- Katharine Ross Actor · b. 1940
- Katharine Graham Businessperson · 1917–2001
- Katharine, Duchess of Kent Politician · b. 1933
- Katharine Burr Blodgett Physicist · 1898–1979
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Katharine mean?
A variant spelling of Catherine, based on the folk etymology that it would derive from Greek καθαρός (katharos "pure").
How popular is the name Katharine in 2025?
Katharine ranked #4,935 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 27 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Katharine?
41,241 babies have been named Katharine in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Katharine most popular?
Katharine peaked in 1982, when 946 newborns received the name.
Is Katharine a boy or girl name?
Katharine is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Katharine rising or falling?
Katharine is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Katharine?
Well-known people named Katharine include Katharine Hepburn (actor), Katharine Ross (actor), Katharine Graham (businessperson).