The story behind Catherine
Borrowed from French Catherine, from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē), *Ἑκατερίνη (*Hekaterínē), of debated meaning, possibly from ἑκάτερος (hekáteros, “each of the two”), or from the name of the goddess Hecate. The apheresis of the first syllable as well as the spelling with ⟨th⟩ in Latin languages, German and English, is due to a folk etymology, dating from Roman times, which associated the name with the Ancient Greek καθαρός (katharós, “pure”). The name belonged to a 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on the wheel from where the term Catherine wheel originates.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
French entry
From Medieval Latin Katerīna, from Latin Ecaterīna, from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē), *Ἑκατερίνη (*Hekaterínē).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkæθ(ə)ɹɪn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- French: /ka.tʁin/
Popularity
Catherine ranked #314 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Catherine
Catharine
A female given name from Ancient Greek, of less common usage, variant of Catherine.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clementine
From French Clémentine, from Latin Clēmentīna, from Clēmens (genitive Clēmentis), from clēmens (“merciful”). By surface analysis, Clement + -ine (feminine suffix). Doublet of…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clémentine
From Latin Clēmentīna. By surface analysis, Clément (“Clement”) + -ine (feminine diminutive suffix).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Constantine
From Latin Cōnstantīnus, the name of Roman emperors, notably that of Constantine the Great, Latin cōnstāns (“constant, steadfast”). Doublet of Konstadinos.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Afërditë
First attested in the late 19th century. Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē), intentionally altered by folk etymology as afër ditës (“near the day”). As…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ë
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alexandre
Borrowed from French Alexandre and Portuguese Alexandre. Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Alexandre, from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Catherine
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Achille
Borrowed from Latin Achilles.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Catherine
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abromas
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβραάμ (Abraám), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם. Cognates include German Abraham and Russian Авраам (Avraam).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length