Catherine is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the word "katharos," which means "pure" or "clear." The name has been popular throughout history and across different cultures.
The earliest known usage of the name Catherine can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was used as an adjective meaning pure or clear. However, it was not commonly used as a given name until the Middle Ages in Europe.
One of the most famous bearers of the name Catherine was Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century AD. According to legend, she was a beautiful and intelligent young woman who converted to Christianity and refused to marry a pagan king. She was eventually executed for her faith on a spiked wheel, which miraculously broke when it touched her body. This event inspired many artistic representations of Saint Catherine over the centuries.
The name Catherine became even more popular in Europe after the Middle Ages due to the veneration of Saint Catherine and other female saints with the same name. In France, for example, it was a common name among the nobility during the Renaissance period.
Today, Catherine remains a popular given name around the world. It has many variations and diminutives, including Cate, Katie, Kathryn, Kathy, Katya, and Catharine, among others. Despite its long history and widespread usage, the name Catherine continues to evoke images of purity, intelligence, and strength, thanks in large part to the enduring legacy of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe the trends of the name Catherine in the United States from 1884 to 2007.
The name Catherine first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1884 with only 7 births recorded that year. The number of births fluctuated between 5 and 12 until reaching a peak of 23 births in 1916, indicating an increase in popularity during this period.
The trend continued to rise, with Catherine peaking at 41 births in 1928. However, it started declining thereafter, dropping to 17 births in 1939 and remaining relatively stable until the mid-1940s when it reached another peak of 26 births in 1942.
The popularity of the name Catherine then began a gradual decline, with fewer than 25 births recorded each year from 1957 onwards. It's worth noting that there was another slight peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with 28 births in 1963 and 27 in 1965.
However, overall, the popularity of the name Catherine continued to decrease over time. By the year 2000, fewer than 15 births were recorded annually, reaching as low as 5 births in 2007.
In total, from 1884 to 2007, there were 1822 births registered with the name Catherine in the United States. These statistics illustrate how the popularity of a name can change over time and generations, reflecting cultural shifts and personal preferences.