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Kathren
How to Pronounce Kathren
Pronounced KATH-ruhn /ˈkæθrən/Medium
Meaning: Kathren is a contracted variant spelling of Katherine, one of the great classic girl's names, from the Greek 'katharos' meaning 'pure'. It sits alongside Kathryn and Kathrine as one of the trimmed spellings that families used in the early-to-mid twentieth century.Medium
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
Kathren is one of several pared-down spellings of Katherine that appeared as the name's many forms multiplied in the early twentieth century. The Greek root 'katharos', 'pure', stands behind it just as it does behind Katherine, Kathryn and Kathleen.
The spelling stayed rare, drawing only a couple dozen girls a year at its high in the mid-nineteen-fifties while Katherine and Kathryn flourished. A woman named Kathren now would be of a grandmother's generation; the tidier Kathryn has long since eclipsed this variant.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Kathren mean?
It is a variant spelling of Katherine, from the Greek 'katharos' meaning 'pure'.
How do you pronounce Kathren?
It's said KATH-ruhn /ˈkæθrən/, two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Kathren a boy or girl name?
Kathren is used as a girl's name.
Is Kathren a popular name?
No, it has always been rare, a variant spelling of Katherine used lightly in the early-to-mid twentieth century.