name
Common
Catherine
KATH-rihn
Catherine (name) means a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world. Example: “Catherine the Great ruled Russia for over three decades.”
name
1
A feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.
"Catherine the Great ruled Russia for over three decades."
""Yes, Catherine sounds like a lovely name. I like it. My new name will be Catherine." She rolled the name Catherine silently again. The name had character a noble ring to it she really liked it."
— Michael O. Gregory, The Dead Years (2003)
"State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, one of the bill’s supporters, said people were not reusing or recycling any plastic bags."
— , California governor signs law banning all plastic shopping bags at grocery stores (2024)
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_____ the Great ruled Russia for over three decades.
Etymology
From French Catherine, from Ancient Greek Aikaterine, of debated origin; associated by folk etymology with Greek katharos, "pure," which gave rise to the "th" spelling.
Related words
Rhymes for Catherine
See all rhymes for Catherine →Frequently asked questions
What does “Catherine” mean?
The word “Catherine” means a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.
How do you pronounce “Catherine”?
“Catherine” is pronounced KATH-rihn (/ˈkæθ(ə)ɹɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Catherine” in a sentence?
Here is “Catherine” used in a sentence: “Catherine the Great ruled Russia for over three decades.”
What part of speech is “Catherine”?
“Catherine” is a name.
Where does the word “Catherine” come from?
The word “Catherine” comes from Ancient Greek. From French Catherine, from Ancient Greek Aikaterine, of debated origin; associated by folk etymology with Greek katharos, "pure," which gave rise to the "th" spelling.
Is “Catherine” a common word?
“Catherine” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "Catherine," "Katherine," and "Kathryn"?
These are spelling variants of the same feminine name. "Catherine" is the traditional form beginning with C, "Katherine" uses a K, and "Kathryn" is a shortened modern spelling; all are pronounced alike.
What are common nicknames for "Catherine"?
Familiar short forms include Kate, Katie, Cathy, Cat, Kitty, and Kay.
Should "Catherine" always be capitalized?
Yes. As a given name, Catherine is a proper noun and always takes a capital C.
Is "Catherine" an old name or a modern one?
Catherine is one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world. It is of Ancient Greek origin and has stayed in continuous use across many generations.
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