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Catharina

♀ Girl

Pronounced kat-uh-REE-nah /ˌkæt.əˈriː.nə/High

Meaning: A genuine Dutch, German and Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Long associated with katharos, 'pure' — the sense that has traveled with the name for centuries.Medium

In 30 seconds: A stately old form of Katherine: Catharina carries the sense 'pure' (said 'kat-uh-REE-nah'). Classic and European.

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Origin MediumDutch, Greek, German

MeaningA genuine Dutch, German and Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Long associated with katharos, 'pure' — the sense that has traveled with the name for centuries.

U.S. rank (2024)#15693 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1989

Total births (all-time)≈ 321

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

Catharina is the long-established Dutch, German and Scandinavian form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, associated with katharos, 'pure.' It fills old parish registers across the Low Countries and carries real weight — rare but genuine in the U.S. (said 'kat-uh-REE-nah').

It appears rarely in the U.S., beside the common Katherine and Catherine. Rare, stately, and classic.

Did you know? Catharina is the Dutch and German form of Katherine — a name linked since the Middle Ages with the Greek katharos, 'pure,' and borne by saints, empresses and queens across Europe (said 'kat-uh-REE-nah').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Catharina — Dutch/German form of Katherine; 'pure'

Variations

KatharinaCatherineKatarina

Nicknames

CatoRina

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Catharina…

Katharina— the German spelling twin

Katarina— the Scandinavian form

Catherine— the familiar English form

Carolina— a like stately -ina classic

Explore names like Catharina

By themeclassic traditional dutch european

By meaningPurity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Catharina mean?

Catharina is a Dutch and German form of Katherine, long associated with the Greek katharos, 'pure.'

How do you pronounce Catharina?

It's said kat-uh-REE-nah /ˌkæt.əˈriː.nə/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Catharina a boy or girl name?

Catharina is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Catharina?

Catharina is a rare name in the U.S., more familiar in the Netherlands and Germany.