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Catalina

♀ Girl

Pronounced kat-uh-LEE-nuh /ˌkæt.əˈliː.nə/High

Meaning: Pure — Spanish form of Katherine/Catherine, from Greek Aikaterinē, associated with the Greek katharos (pure)High

In 30 seconds: The romantic Spanish form of Catherine, meaning 'pure' from the Greek. Catalina flows with four sun-lit syllables, evoking the California island as much as a Spanish saint. It's been rising steadily among U.S. Hispanic communities and beyond.

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Origin HighSpanish, Greek

MeaningPure — Spanish form of Katherine/Catherine, from Greek Aikaterinē, associated with the Greek katharos (pure)

U.S. rank (2025)#111 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births2,456 girls (0.15% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 32,998

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Catalina is the Spanish form of Katherine (also Catherine), itself from the Greek Aikaterinē. The Greek meaning is debated but is most commonly associated with katharos (pure, clean). Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century martyr, spread the name across Europe; in Spanish-speaking lands the form became Catalina.

Catalina has been popular in Spain and Latin America for centuries. In the U.S. it has been a consistent presence in Hispanic communities and has gained broader appeal as romantic, multi-syllable Spanish names become fashionable. Santa Catalina Island gives the name an additional California resonance.

Did you know? Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California, was named by Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602 on the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria — directly honoring this name's patron saint.

Variations

CatherineKatherineKatarinaCaterina

Nicknames

CatCataLinaTali

Famous Bearers

★Saint Catherine of Alexandria (died c. 305)
Early Christian martyr and patron of philosophers, scholars, and young women.

If you like Catalina…

Valentina— equally lavish Spanish/Italian four-syllable name with romantic warmth

Isabella— beloved four-syllable classic equally rich with history

Christiana— a fellow Greek choice

Ariadna— shares Catalina's Greek roots

Itzayana— a fellow Spanish choice

Explore names like Catalina

By meaningPurity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Catalina mean?

Catalina is the Spanish form of Catherine, associated with the Greek katharos meaning 'pure.'

How do you pronounce Catalina?

Catalina is pronounced kat-uh-LEE-nuh /ˌkæt.əˈliː.nə/ — four syllables with stress on the third.

Is Catalina a boy or girl name?

Catalina is a feminine name.

How popular is Catalina?

Catalina has been rising in the U.S., particularly in Hispanic communities, and now frequently ranks in the top 200 girls' names.