Catherine is of Greek origin, derived from the word 'katharos', which means pure or innocent. It was brought to Britain by the Normans and has been widely used ever since. Catherine is also a popular form of the name in many other languages, such as French (Catherine), Spanish (Catalina) and Italian (Caterina). Throughout history, numerous notable figures have borne this name, including Catherine of Siena, a medieval Italian tertiary of the Dominican Order and one of the most influential women in Christian history. Catherine is also the patron saint of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and several other countries.
The name Catherene experienced peaks in popularity around the early 20th century, with a significant number of births occurring between 1920 and 1924 (around 78 births during this period). However, its usage began to decline thereafter, reaching a low point by the late 1930s. Despite some fluctuations, it remained relatively uncommon throughout much of the mid- to late-century period, with no more than 10 births reported in any single year from 1945 onwards. Overall, there were a total of 256 births recorded for this name across these years.