Kathryn is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Kathryn means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Kathryn across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Kathryn has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Kathryn is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “pure”. a variant spelling of Katherine.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 456,515 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 4,768 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 2,620 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 433 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 1,250 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 5,104 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Kathryn per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1952 (8,517/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (635/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1989 (117/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (61/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1983 (45/yr).
Kathryn has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1952, when it ranked #90 nationally (given to 8,517 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1950s.
Catherine · Katherine · Katharine · Catharine · Cathryn · Kathrine · Cathrine · Katherin
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