International Variations of Katherine
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About this list
Katherine is one of the most enduring classic baby names for girls.
Famous Katherines and Catherines from history include three wives of Henry VIII (Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr), Russian Empress Catherine the Great, and legendary Hollywood actress Katharine Hepburn.
Iconic literary Catherines include Catherine "Cathy" Earnshaw from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, Catherine "Kitty" Bennet and Catherine Morland from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey, and Catherine Barkley from Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.
And Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is a highly influential modern bearer of the classic girl name Catherine. Along with the truly timeless baby girl names Katherine and Catherine, several other forms of the name rank in the US Top 1000, such as Kate, Kaitlyn or Katelyn, Katie, and Katalina. But there are many beautiful international forms of Katherine that also belong on the list of uncommon and unique baby names for girls. Along with foreign variants like Yekaterina, Catriona and Katrien, there are also plenty of unique nicknames for Katherine to choose from, such as Katya, Kaia and Reina. Discover some of the best international variants of Katherine here.
The names
Catalina
Spanish variation of Catherine
"pure"
This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin. Santa Catalina of Siena was, along with Saint…
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 ,…
Kaia
Latin, Scandinavian, or Hawaiian
"to rejoice or sea"
The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as…
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…
Katalina
Variation of Catalina, Spanish
"pure"
Spelling variant of Catalina, currently on the rise in the US.
Reina
Spanish, Yiddish or Japanese
"queen; pure; wise"
An appellation for the Virgin Mary, "Queen of the apostles." After three years off the US popularity charts, Reina rejoined the list in 2014, though it lags behind alternate spellings Raina, Rayna,…
Katharina
German variation of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Katharina is an attractive form of Katherine and a great way to update a classic. Popular in Austria and a classic in Germany, it is typically pronounced as ka-ta-REE-na, though kath-uh-REE-nuh or…
Katia
Russian diminutive of Ekaterina
"pure"
One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington is the father of a Katia.
Kai
Hawaiian
"sea"
This appealing multi-cultural name, pronounced KYE, is beginning to be used for girls as well as boys. Among its many derivations and meanings: "sea" in Hawaiian, "forgiveness" in Japanese, "willow…
Katarina
Slovak; Swedish; Serbian; Croatian; Slovenian, variation of Katherine
"pure"
The Russian version of Katherine is usually Ekaterina, but this form is used throughout Eastern Europe and may be more friendly to the American ear.
Kati
Kati is a feminine name that functions as a diminutive form of Katherine or Katalin, particularly in Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian cultures. Katherine ultimately derives from the Greek name…
Cathleen
Variation of Kathleen, English and Irish
"pure"
Variant of Kathleen
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…
Catrina
Catrina is a feminine name with Spanish and Latin roots. It's a variation of Katherine, which derives from the Greek name 'Aikaterine,' meaning 'pure.' Catrina has special cultural significance in…
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…
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…
Cathrine
Cathrine is a variation of Catherine, one of the most enduring feminine names throughout Western history. Derived from the Greek name 'Aikaterine,' its meaning remains debated, with possible origins…
Caja
Danish, Cornish
"pure; daisy"
A Danish variant of Kaja (Kaya) or a Cornish word name derived from kaja "daisy".
Caterina
Italian variation of Katherine
If your ancestry is Italian, you may want to consider this elegant twist on a classic.
Caitrìona
Caitrìona is a feminine Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine, featuring the characteristic accent on the 'ì' that influences pronunciation. Derived ultimately from the Greek name Aikaterine, it carries…
