Katherine

Girls

Best rank #45 (2008) · ranked in 9 years

Katherine has appeared in the popularity rankings across 9 of the tracked years since 2008.

It eased from #45 in 2008 to #91 in 2016.

It does not appear in the top ranks in the most recent data (2025).

5,350 newborns received the name Katherine in 2008, its peak year.

Katherine was most popular around 2008, making it characteristic of the 2000s generation.

Rank by year

11020200820122016
  1. 2016913,276
  2. 2015843,454
  3. 2014823,691
  4. 2013773,723
  5. 2012643,953
  6. 2011614,189
  7. 2010703,870
  8. 2009604,432
  9. 2008455,350

Similar names

Khloe, Kylie, Kaitlyn stand out as close matches to Katherine, tracking a similar sound or popularity window. See how their rankings compare below.

Where Katherine is most popular

In 2025, Katherine was recorded in 41 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 1,645 births nationwide.

The largest share came from Texas at 229 births, 13.9% of the national total, where it ranked #309 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 50.5% of Katherine births, against 13.3% Northeast, 17.9% Midwest, 18.3% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Katherine placed as high as #186 in District of Columbia and as low as #1296 in Oregon.

The 10 jurisdictions without a figure are not zeros. SSA withholds any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a given state and year to protect privacy.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1Texas229 · #309 there
  2. 2California160 · #449 there
  3. 3Florida101 · #395 there
  4. 4North Carolina81 · #294 there
  5. 5New York77 · #482 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast13.3%
  • Midwest17.9%
  • South50.5%
  • West18.3%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is Katherine a popular name?
Katherine reached a best rank of #45 in 2008 and has charted in 9 years.
Where does Katherine rank now?
Katherine does not appear in the top ranks in the most recent data (2025).
Is Katherine a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a girls' name.
When was Katherine most popular?
Katherine peaked around 2008.

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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)