
The short answer
Catherine is a feminine name used in French and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "French form of Katherine, and also a common English variant. This is the usual English spelling for historical figures such as Catherine de' Medici and Catherine the Great." It ranked #314 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, french form of Katherine, and also a common English variant. This is the usual English spelling for historical figures such as Catherine de' Medici and Catherine the Great. The entry lists its usage as French, English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Catherine ranked #314 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #314 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (French) and that sit near Catherine in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Catherine mean?
Behind the Name does not give Catherine a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: french form of Katherine, and also a common English variant.
Is Catherine a popular name?
Catherine ranked #314 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Catherine a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Catherine appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Catherine — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.