Meaning: Its source is Aikaterine, a Greek name meaning "Pure."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Kate, Kathy, Katie, Katy, Kay, Kitty and Thryn

Alternative Spellings: Kathrin, Kathrynn, Kathrynne and Cathrin

Variant Forms: Kathrine and Kathyrn

Popularity: The name Kathryn ranked 104th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 82nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.

Narrative: This meaning assumes the source name was derived from the Greek term katharos. However, it may have evolved from Hecate, the name of the Greek goddess of magic. Another possible source is katateinô, the Greek word for torture.

All three meanings might have been associated with St. Aikaterine (Katherine) of Alexandria, who was born a pagan but died as a Christian martyr.