Katherine Meaning and Origin

The name Katherine, is a Christian name that dates back from the 12th century in England where it had been standardised as Katherine, Katheryn or Catherine.

It’s associated with the Greek name, Katharos, which means pure. It was borne by St Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century martyr who was tortured on a spiked wheel.

Katherine’s Popularity

In 2016, the name Katherine was not in the 100 most popular baby girl’s name in England (Office of National Statistics). This name however was popular between 1960s and 2000s.

Pronunciation

You pronounce Katherine as ‘KATH-er-in’.

Famous ‘Katherines’

Here is a list of some famous people called Katherine:

• Katherine Jenkins – a Welsh classical singer.
• Katherine Kelly – an actress who appeared on the soap Coronation Street.
• Katherine Heigl – an American actresses who has appeared in a number of Hollywood blockbusters.

Traits of a Person Called Katherine

It’s said that a Katherine will have an intense inner desire for love and companionship, and want to collaborate with others to achieve resolve.

It’s also said that a Katherine tends to start events, to be a leader instead of a follower, holding a strong personality. A Katherine maintains targeted goals, lives in a wealth of creative ideas, and is able to flesh out these ideas with precision and will power. She is known to be brave and occasionally aggressive. Claiming her uniqueness and independence, she’ll usually resent authority. Sometimes she’ll be stubborn, proud, and impatient. Don’t be surprised if you notice Katherine Heigl, Dr. Isobel from Grey’s Anatomy, with any of these traits. The name Katherine stays true to its character.

Useful Resources

• Our comprehensive list of English girls’ names