Catherine
View all girl namesPlus IconCatherine is a traditionally feminine name with roots in Latin, French, Irish, and Anglo-Saxon. In Latin the name originates from Katharina; in Greek it comes from Aikaterina. There are actually quite a few Saint Catherines, including Catherine of Alexandria, who was a martyr in the fourth century.
Variants include Katherine, Cathleen, Caitlin, Caitlyn, Cathy, Cait, Catie, Catharina, Katerina, and Ekaterina. There have been plenty royal Catherines throughout history, from Catherine de' Medici in the 1500s to Catherine of Alexandria to to Catherine I of Russia to our modern-day Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate Middleton. Other famous Catherines in popular culture include Kate Bush, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Catherine Deneuve. Catherine Earnshaw is the famous protagonist of Emily Brontë's classic novel "Wuthering Heights," and Catherine Morland is the heroine of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey."
Catherine is a classic name that has already seen its heyday, which makes it a unique pick for modern kids. The name peaked in popularity way back in 1909 and has been on the decline ever since, with one more semi-peak during the 1950s. Interested in a different traditional girls' name beginning with "C"? Try Chloe, Charlotte, Camille, Claire, Caroline, Cora, Cassidy, Cecilia, or Christina. Other names with Catherine's old-time elegance include Elizabeth, Jane, Anne, Margaret, Louisa, Beatrice, Helena, Audrey, and Juliet.
Catherine in quotes:
“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you — haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe — I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always — take any form — drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
― Heathcliff in Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights"
“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine... But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine.”
― Jane Austen, "Northanger Abbey"
Meanings
Anglo-Saxon Baby Names Meaning:
In Anglo-Saxon Baby Names the meaning of the name Catherine is: Innocent.
French Baby Names Meaning:
In French Baby Names the meaning of the name Catherine is: Pure, clear. Form of the Latin Katharina, from the Greek Aikaterina. It was borne by a number of saints, including St Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century martyr who suffered torture on a spiked wheel.
Greek Baby Names Meaning:
In Greek Baby Names the meaning of the name Catherine is: Pure. Famous bearer: Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.
Irish Baby Names Meaning:
In Irish Baby Names the meaning of the name Catherine is: Pure. Clear. Innocent. From the Gaelic form Caitlin.
Latin Baby Names Meaning:
In Latin Baby Names the meaning of the name Catherine is: Pure, clear. Form of the Latin 'Katharina', from the Greek 'Aikaterina'. It was borne by a number of saints, including St Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century martyr who suffered torture on a spiked wheel.