How Many People Are Named Katherine?
Complete statistics for the name Katherine: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Katherine is a classic name with Greek roots, meaning 'pure' or 'clear', and it's still carried by around 482,339 Americans today. That works out to about 1 in 684 Americans, which puts it in genuinely uncommon territory despite feeling so familiar. It spent 56 years in the US top 10, so chances are you've known at least one Katherine in your life.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Katherine carries a life-path number of 1, which traditionally represents independence, leadership, and a pioneering spirit. People associated with the number 1 are seen as self-driven individuals who forge their own path rather than follow the crowd.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 58All 650,560 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1990Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Katherine Through the Generations
Katherine has had a long, distinguished run in the US, with 650,560 births recorded all time and roughly 482,339 still living today. That's a pretty healthy retention rate, which makes sense given the name peaked as recently as 1990 with 11,659 births in a single year. The age story is where things get interesting. A full 42% of all Katherines alive today are over 60, and the average age sits at 58, so this skews heavily toward older generations. Only 133,313 are under 30, compared to 272,007 over 60, meaning the younger pipeline is noticeably thinner. The trend is declining, which fits, since the name was far more popular with Baby Boomers and Gen X than with younger parents today. Its 56 years in the US top 10 shows real staying power historically, but those days appear to be behind it.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Katherine
Katherine, also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with the early Christian saint Catherine of Alexandria.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Katherine's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Katherine
How Many People Have the Name Katherine?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 294 people in the United States currently share the name Katherine. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,127,379 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Katherine a Common or Rare Name?
Katherine is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Katherine Mean?
Katherine means "Pure, clear" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Katherine in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Katherine Most Popular?
The name Katherine reached peak popularity in 1990, with 11,659 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Katherine?
Approximately 294 people named Katherine live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 294. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,127,379 Americans.
Is Katherine a rare name?
Katherine is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,127,379 Americans has this name.
What does the name Katherine mean?
Katherine means "Pure, clear" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Katherine more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Katherine are male and 100% are female.
When was Katherine most popular?
Katherine peaked in 1990 with 11,659 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.