Katharine is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the Late Latin name "Catherine," which means "pure" or "clear." The name has been popular throughout history, with several prominent figures bearing it.
The name Catherine was originally a Greek name, "Aikaterine," which meant "pure" or "innocent." It was later adapted into Latin as "Catharina" and then further anglicized to become Catherine. The name became particularly popular in the Middle Ages due to the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr who was said to have been sentenced to death on a breaking wheel but miraculously survived until her executioners were struck blind. Her story captivated the imaginations of many during this period, leading to an increase in the popularity of the name.
The name Katharine emerged as a variant spelling of Catherine in the 19th century. It is sometimes spelled with a "K" instead of a "C," but its pronunciation and meaning remain the same. Some notable people named Katharine include Katharine Hepburn, a renowned actress known for her roles in classic films such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Philadelphia Story," and Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, The Washington Post.
In literature, Katharine is also the title character of Henry James' novel "The Portrait of a Lady." The name has been used throughout history and continues to be popular today as a classic yet distinctive choice for parents looking for a name with a rich history and meaningful meaning. Overall, Katharine is a elegant and timeless name that evokes images of strength, purity, and grace.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Katharine in the United States from 1880 to 2023. The data illustrates a trend of fluctuations over time, with peaks and troughs in popularity.
In the late 19th century, around the 1880s to early 1890s, the name Katharine was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 150 births per year on average. However, there was a noticeable increase starting from the mid-1890s, reaching over 200 births per year by the turn of the century.
The early 20th century saw a significant rise in popularity for the name Katharine, with numbers consistently above 300 births per year between 1908 and 1954. The peak occurred in 1955, with 416 births that year. This period can be considered the golden age of the name Katharine.
From the mid-1950s onwards, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Katharine, dropping below 300 births per year by the late 1960s and continuing to decrease throughout the 1970s. This trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with fewer than 100 births per year on average.
In recent years, from 2000 onwards, the name Katharine has become quite rare, with fewer than 50 births per year recorded in the United States. The most recent data available (2023) shows only 34 births.
Overall, while Katharine was a popular choice for parents in the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has significantly waned in recent decades, making it quite uncommon today.