Kathryn
Top 1000
About Kathryn
Although the Kathryn spelling feels like a modern streamlining of this ancient royal and saints' name, it is in fact found back through history. At least one of Henry the Eighth's unfortunately wives sometimes spelled her name as Kathryn.
While Katherine is the number one spelling of the name these days and Catherine number 2, the Kathryn form is well-used if not exactly modern-feeling. Two recent Kathryns of note: Academy Award-winning film director Kathryn Bigelow and bestselling novelist Kathryn Stockett.
As of October 2026, Kathryn ranked #729 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #45 in 1951, Nameberry popularity #424.
Editor's take: The name Kathryn is a girl's name of English, Greek origin meaning "pure".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #293 | 1,118 | 625.9 |
| 2015 | #318 | 1,021 | 572 |
| 2016 | #396 | 839 | 473.5 |
| 2017 | #427 | 748 | 433.3 |
| 2018 | #453 | 698 | 410.3 |
| 2019 | #486 | 650 | 387.3 |
| 2020 | #525 | 574 | 355.1 |
| 2021 | #589 | 510 | 310.8 |
| 2022 | #655 | 452 | 275.6 |
| 2023 | #677 | 432 | 269.2 |
| 2024 | #717 | 391 | 241.3 |
| 2025 | #729 | 381 | 237 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Kathryn.
- Carolyn
- Kristen
- Caitlin
- Alison
- Sher
- Katie
- Megan
- Brittany
- Lindsay
- Caitlyn
- Leanna
- Kelly
- Candace
- Krystal
- Shannon
- Leslie
- Becca
- Julie
- Carla
- Kirsten
Kathryn on lists
Famous Kathryns
- Kathryn Hahn
American actress
- Kathryn Ann Bigelow
American film director
- Kathryn Stockett
American novelist
- Kathryn Beaumont
English actress and singer
- Kathryn Joosten
American actress
- Kathryn Grayson (born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick)
American actress and singer
- Kathryn McCormick
American dancer on TV's So You Think You Can Dance
- Kathryn "Kathie" Lee (Epstein) Gifford
American TV personality
- Kathryn Leigh Scott
American actress
- Kathryn "Kat" Cressida
American actress
- Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan
American geologist and astronaut
- Kathryn Newton
American actress
- Kathryn Lasky
American novelist
- Kathryn "Kat" Prescott
English actress
- Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo
Filipino actress
- Kathryn Elsbeth Erbe
American actress
- Kathryn Susan Morris
American actress
- Kathryn Tickell
English musician
- Kathryn Fiore
American actress
- Kathryn Williams
English singer,songwriter
- Kathryn "Kate" McKinnon (Berthold)
American actress and comedienne
Kathryn in pop culture
- Captain Kathryn Janeway
character on TV's "Star Trek: Voyager"
- Kathryn Kennish
character on TV's "Switched at Birth"
- Kathryn Merteuil
character in movie "Cruel Intentions"
- Kathryn Nolan
character in TV's "Once Upon A Time"
- Kathryn Munson
character in "X,Men"
Variations & nicknames
- Katherinespelling variation
- Katharinespelling variation
- Catherinespelling variation
More nicknames
- Kathy
- Kate
- Katie
- Katy
- Kat