Variations of Katherine

Katherine

Greek

"pure"

Katherine is one of the oldest, most diverse, and all-around best names: it's powerful, feminine, royal, saintly, classic, popular, and adaptable. Long one of the top girls' names starting with K ,…

Catherine

Greek

"pure"

Catherine is one of the oldest and most consistently well-used girls’ names , with endless variations and nicknames. The Catherine form feels more gently old-fashioned and feminine than the more…

Kate

English, diminutive of Katherine

"pure"

Kate, in the headlines via Catherine Middleton aka the Princess of Wales, has been as pervasive as Kathy was in the 1950s and 1960s, both as a nickname for Katherine and Kaitlyn and as a strong,…

Katie

English, diminutive of Katherine

"pure"

Friendly mega-popular short form of Katherine that has definitively replaced Kathy, Katie is often given on its own. Going forward, though, Katie is more stylishly clipped itself to the grownup Kate.

Kathryn

English variation of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

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…

Katelyn

Spelling variation of Caitlin

"pure"

One of the most popular of the trendy Caitlin variations, Katelyn points directly to components Kate and Lyn --making it a bit more traditionally feminine.

Kit

English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too. Originally used as a diminutive of…

Kathleen

Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin

"pure"

Kathleen is the early Irish import version that came between Katherine and Kaitlin, and which hasn't been used in so long it's almost beginning to sound fresh again. It was a surprise pick by one of…

Katerina

Macedonian, Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, and Greek form of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

Katerina and its near-identical twin Katarina have a pleasingly lilting European sound, though for some Americans they may be uncomfortably close to Katrina, which will be linked for a long time to…

Katrina

German variation of Katherine

"pure"

The hurricane blew this one out of the realm of possibility.

Caitlin

Irish variation of Catherine

"pure"

An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity…

Katelynn

Spelling variation of Caitlin

Caitlin, but with the popular -lynn suffix.

Kathy

English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.

Katya

Russian, diminutive of Ekatarina, Russian variation of Katherine

"pure"

One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington gave his daughter the Katia spelling.

Kay

English, diminutive of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

Kay, a cigarette-smoking, nightclubbing name of the 1930's, could be ready for a comeback along with cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae. Kay has been out of sight since the mid-eighties, but was in the…

Katharine

Spelling variation of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

This is the spelling that old-time film star Katharine Hepburn used, and it's still favored by fans wanting to reference her classic strength and beauty. But in general, it's losing ground to…

Keidy

Diminutive of Katherine

"pure"

Since the 2000s, Keidy has risen from obscurity to being used more than 150 times in 2023. Borne by Venezuelan model and photographer, Keidy Moreno Marín, Estonian skier, Keidy Kaasiku, model Keidy…

Cathy

English diminutive of Catherine, Greek

"pure"

One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties — and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? — now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.

Cate

English diminutive of Catherine

"pure"

Time was, even C-starting Catherines who called themselves Kate spelled it with a K, but Cate Blanchett changed all. Cate is now as acceptable as (but not as well used as) Kate. Cait might be short…

Cathleen

Variation of Kathleen, English and Irish

"pure"

Variant of Kathleen