Katherine (given name)

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Note: This article deals with the history of the name Katherine. To find people usually known only by the name Katherine, see Katherine. To find people with the given name Katherine who are also known by another name, see All pages beginning with Katherine, All pages beginning with Katharine, and All pages beginning with Catherine.

Katherine
Given Name


Catherine of Alexandria, by Carlo Crivelli. The name Catherine became famous in Christian communities because of this early saint
Gender female
Nicknames Kate, Kath, Cath, Cate, Cat, Kathy, Kathie, Kathi, Katey, Katy, Kay, Kat, Katya, Katyusha, Katie, Kati, Kaki, Kit, Kitty, Kaity, and Cathy
Related names Katheryn, Kathryn, Katharyn, Katherin, Catharine, Cathryn, Katheryne,
Wikipedia articles All pages beginning with Katherine
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Katherine is a feminine given name of Greek origin, which is popular in historically Christian countries, owing to its having been the name of one of the first Christian saints, Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

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[edit] Origin and meaning

The name is derived from the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē), of debated origin and meaning. Theories include:

  • from the Greek (catharsis)see Aristotle's Poetics, meaning to purge or to cleanse - pure/purity of emotion
  • from ἑκάτερος (hekáteros), meaning each of the two, singly[citation needed]
  • from the goddess Hecate.
  • from the Greek word αἰκία (aikía) injurious treatment [1]

The Romans, through folk etymology, associated the name with the greek καθαρός (katharós) pure which led to the variant spelling Katharine/Katharina. The spelling Katharine is more popular in the United States than in Britain and also more popular in the past[citation needed]. The form Catherine, corresponding with the French version, is also common in English.

Less common variants in English include Katheryn, Kathryn, Katharyn, Katherin, Catharine, and Cathryn. The form Karen, of Danish origin, is now often considered an English name in its own right. Diminutives include Kate, Kath, Cath, Cate, Kathy, Kathie, Kathi, Katey, Katy, Kay, Kat, Katya, Katyusha, Katie, Kati, Kaki, Kit, Kitty, Katheryne, Kaitie, Kady, Kaity and Cathy.


[edit] Variants

[edit] See also


[edit] References

  1. ^ Liddell, H.G.; Scott. Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford.