Katherine

Katherine is one of the oldest, most diverse, and all-around best names: it's powerful, feminine, royal, saintly, classic, popular, and adaptable. Katherine also has a profusion of spellings, short forms, and admirable namesakes. The Katherine spelling has been the preferred one in recent years, though Catherine has a gentle vintage appeal, while the Katharine spelling relates to actress Kate Hepburn. Sleeker, more modern-feeling Kathryn has in fact been used for centuries and is still popular if not exactly stylish.

Katherine has been used for countless literary figures over the centuries, from the spirited heroine of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" to the bff in "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Martin Short and Tim Allen have daughters named Katherine.