Katherine
#186 for girls in 2025, 1,670 births · Last seen for boys in 2015 at #8,040
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1991 · 11,495 births
- Debut · girls
- 502 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 132 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 650,926since 1880
Katherine over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #186 | 1,670 | — | |
| 2024 | #175 | 1,746 | — | |
| 2023 | #170 | 1,705 | — | |
| 2022 | #166 | 1,742 | — | |
| 2021 | #157 | 1,821 | — | |
| 2020 | #136 | 1,991 | — | |
| 2019 | #120 | 2,450 | — | |
| 2018 | #112 | 2,677 | — | |
| 2017 | #105 | 2,861 | — | |
| 2016 | #91 | 3,276 | — | |
| 2015 | #84 | 3,454 | #8,040 | 9 |
| 2014 | #82 | 3,691 | #9,642 | 7 |
| 2013 | #77 | 3,723 | — | |
| 2012 | #64 | 3,953 | — | |
| 2011 | #61 | 4,189 | #12,287 | 5 |
| 2010 | #70 | 3,870 | — | |
| 2009 | #60 | 4,432 | #12,491 | 5 |
| 2008 | #45 | 5,350 | #11,037 | 6 |
| 2007 | #39 | 5,818 | #9,788 | 7 |
| 2006 | #37 | 6,295 | #10,662 | 6 |
| 2005 | #36 | 6,392 | #5,578 | 14 |
| 2004 | #35 | 6,742 | #3,074 | 32 |
| 2003 | #35 | 7,126 | #6,715 | 10 |
| 2002 | #36 | 7,212 | #5,725 | 12 |
| 2001 | #35 | 7,880 | #5,142 | 14 |
| 2000 | #33 | 8,109 | #5,297 | 13 |
| 1999 | #36 | 7,935 | #7,874 | 7 |
| 1998 | #33 | 8,207 | #4,873 | 13 |
| 1997 | #32 | 8,518 | #5,288 | 11 |
| 1996 | #31 | 8,877 | #4,396 | 14 |
| 1995 | #30 | 8,987 | #4,508 | 13 |
| 1994 | #30 | 9,586 | #3,469 | 19 |
| 1993 | #29 | 10,506 | #3,368 | 19 |
| 1992 | #27 | 11,149 | #3,220 | 20 |
| 1991 | #25 | 11,495 | #3,105 | 20 |
| 1990 | #26 | 11,625 | #2,214 | 32 |
| 1989 | #26 | 11,415 | #1,082 | 94 |
| 1988 | #27 | 11,154 | #1,671 | 42 |
| 1987 | #28 | 10,438 | #1,587 | 44 |
| 1986 | #28 | 10,570 | #1,511 | 44 |
| 1985 | #32 | 10,128 | #1,614 | 39 |
| 1984 | #30 | 10,157 | #1,365 | 48 |
| 1983 | #34 | 9,684 | #1,711 | 33 |
| 1982 | #36 | 9,179 | #1,415 | 45 |
| 1981 | #39 | 8,433 | #1,811 | 31 |
| 1980 | #35 | 8,017 | #1,852 | 30 |
| 1979 | #36 | 7,464 | #1,598 | 36 |
| 1978 | #38 | 6,625 | #1,913 | 26 |
| 1977 | #44 | 6,030 | #2,270 | 20 |
| 1976 | #57 | 5,051 | #2,601 | 16 |
| 1975 | #58 | 4,851 | #2,361 | 18 |
| 1974 | #62 | 4,530 | #2,358 | 17 |
| 1973 | #64 | 4,420 | #2,857 | 12 |
| 1972 | #69 | 4,514 | #2,819 | 12 |
| 1971 | #67 | 5,120 | #1,597 | 30 |
| 1970 | #67 | 5,443 | #2,293 | 16 |
| 1969 | #70 | 5,167 | #2,130 | 16 |
| 1968 | #75 | 4,716 | #2,576 | 11 |
| 1967 | #76 | 4,560 | #2,139 | 14 |
| 1966 | #78 | 4,492 | #1,814 | 18 |
| 1965 | #79 | 4,706 | #2,617 | 10 |
| 1964 | #82 | 5,074 | #1,975 | 17 |
| 1963 | #87 | 5,124 | #1,902 | 18 |
| 1962 | #83 | 5,272 | #2,848 | 9 |
| 1961 | #86 | 5,632 | #1,876 | 19 |
| 1960 | #81 | 5,876 | #1,658 | 24 |
| 1959 | #79 | 6,139 | #2,200 | 14 |
| 1958 | #74 | 6,433 | #1,953 | 17 |
| 1957 | #72 | 6,637 | #1,952 | 17 |
| 1956 | #67 | 7,082 | #1,722 | 21 |
| 1955 | #65 | 7,239 | #2,048 | 15 |
| 1954 | #64 | 6,740 | #1,956 | 16 |
| 1953 | #63 | 6,559 | #2,186 | 13 |
| 1952 | #59 | 6,891 | #1,856 | 17 |
| 1951 | #55 | 6,930 | #2,844 | 8 |
| 1950 | #58 | 6,205 | #2,580 | 9 |
| 1949 | #59 | 6,039 | #1,702 | 19 |
| 1948 | #68 | 5,169 | #2,443 | 10 |
| 1947 | #76 | 4,884 | #1,733 | 19 |
| 1946 | #78 | 4,197 | #3,525 | 5 |
| 1945 | #82 | 3,393 | #2,009 | 12 |
| 1944 | #77 | 3,525 | #1,988 | 13 |
| 1943 | #78 | 3,616 | #1,986 | 14 |
| 1942 | #81 | 3,376 | #2,042 | 13 |
| 1941 | #85 | 3,004 | #1,821 | 15 |
| 1940 | #91 | 2,709 | #2,322 | 10 |
| 1939 | #101 | 2,476 | #1,958 | 13 |
| 1938 | #105 | 2,575 | #2,868 | 7 |
| 1937 | #103 | 2,484 | #1,913 | 14 |
| 1936 | #100 | 2,355 | #1,964 | 13 |
| 1935 | #103 | 2,340 | #1,929 | 14 |
| 1934 | #101 | 2,388 | #1,860 | 15 |
| 1933 | #100 | 2,330 | #1,905 | 14 |
| 1932 | #95 | 2,588 | #1,995 | 14 |
| 1931 | #91 | 2,624 | #2,101 | 13 |
| 1930 | #85 | 3,033 | #1,559 | 22 |
| 1929 | #84 | 3,016 | #2,199 | 13 |
| 1928 | #75 | 3,398 | #1,760 | 19 |
| 1927 | #73 | 3,724 | #1,871 | 18 |
| 1926 | #72 | 3,834 | #1,787 | 19 |
| 1925 | #61 | 4,240 | #2,313 | 13 |
| 1924 | #59 | 4,695 | #1,894 | 18 |
| 1923 | #60 | 4,579 | #1,551 | 24 |
| 1922 | #54 | 4,827 | #2,347 | 13 |
| 1921 | #49 | 5,156 | #2,502 | 12 |
| 1920 | #45 | 5,276 | #1,966 | 17 |
| 1919 | #51 | 4,846 | #2,511 | 11 |
| 1918 | #50 | 5,191 | #2,398 | 12 |
| 1917 | #49 | 4,956 | #2,091 | 14 |
| 1916 | #51 | 4,801 | #2,152 | 13 |
| 1915 | #49 | 4,488 | #2,829 | 8 |
| 1914 | #48 | 3,652 | #2,457 | 8 |
| 1913 | #54 | 2,794 | #1,803 | 10 |
| 1912 | #53 | 2,546 | — | |
| 1911 | #55 | 1,858 | #1,740 | 5 |
| 1910 | #57 | 1,752 | — | |
| 1909 | #53 | 1,557 | #1,083 | 8 |
| 1908 | #55 | 1,430 | — | |
| 1907 | #55 | 1,413 | #1,345 | 5 |
| 1906 | #56 | 1,277 | — | |
| 1905 | #63 | 1,190 | — | |
| 1904 | #63 | 1,128 | #723 | 11 |
| 1903 | #66 | 1,015 | #1,130 | 5 |
| 1902 | #68 | 1,004 | #1,137 | 5 |
| 1901 | #71 | 890 | — | |
| 1900 | #65 | 1,201 | — | |
| 1899 | #65 | 942 | — | |
| 1898 | #69 | 914 | — | |
| 1897 | #65 | 962 | — | |
| 1896 | #61 | 1,047 | — | |
| 1895 | #65 | 968 | — | |
| 1894 | #64 | 948 | — | |
| 1893 | #62 | 963 | — | |
| 1892 | #60 | 961 | — | |
| 1891 | #62 | 803 | #963 | 5 |
| 1890 | #59 | 900 | — | |
| 1889 | #56 | 889 | — | |
| 1888 | #56 | 893 | — | |
| 1887 | #53 | 794 | — | |
| 1886 | #54 | 744 | — | |
| 1885 | #50 | 751 | — | |
| 1884 | #55 | 671 | — | |
| 1883 | #56 | 583 | — | |
| 1882 | #52 | 591 | — | |
| 1881 | #52 | 504 | — | |
| 1880 | #53 | 502 | #909 | 5 |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Katherine was already there! It came in at #53, and was given to 502 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1886, when fewer than 760 girls a year got the name.
Where Katherine is popular in 1986
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Connecticut#15 · 1 in 86
- New Hampshire#19 · 1 in 87
- District of Columbia#19 · 1 in 91
- Virginia#19 · 1 in 102
- Massachusetts#20 · 1 in 102
Best ever in a state: #1 in District of Columbia, 2006.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | #15 | 201 | 1 in 86 |
| District of Columbia | #19 | 62 | 1 in 91 |
| New Hampshire | #19 | 69 | 1 in 87 |
| Virginia | #19 | 331 | 1 in 102 |
| Massachusetts | #20 | 344 | 1 in 102 |
| South Carolina | #20 | 159 | 1 in 111 |
| Missouri | #21 | 309 | 1 in 102 |
| Alaska | #22 | 38 | 1 in 98 |
| Maine | #22 | 62 | 1 in 98 |
| Illinois | #23 | 603 | 1 in 118 |
| New York | #23 | 752 | 1 in 144 |
| Vermont | #23 | 29 | 1 in 94 |
| New Jersey | #24 | 341 | 1 in 123 |
| Minnesota | #25 | 257 | 1 in 108 |
| Indiana | #26 | 257 | 1 in 128 |
| North Carolina | #26 | 269 | 1 in 132 |
| Rhode Island | #26 | 47 | 1 in 108 |
| Colorado | #27 | 179 | 1 in 122 |
| Delaware | #27 | 32 | 1 in 99 |
| Florida | #27 | 444 | 1 in 150 |
| Kentucky | #27 | 159 | 1 in 132 |
| Maryland | #27 | 221 | 1 in 111 |
| Nebraska | #27 | 87 | 1 in 109 |
| Georgia | #28 | 278 | 1 in 136 |
| Washington | #28 | 206 | 1 in 132 |
| Oregon | #29 | 115 | 1 in 134 |
| Ohio | #30 | 504 | 1 in 135 |
| South Dakota | #30 | 32 | 1 in 127 |
| Wisconsin | #30 | 229 | 1 in 130 |
| Alabama | #31 | 137 | 1 in 156 |
| Iowa | #31 | 125 | 1 in 128 |
| Tennessee | #31 | 181 | 1 in 152 |
| Kansas | #32 | 105 | 1 in 138 |
| Michigan | #34 | 421 | 1 in 134 |
| Texas | #34 | 717 | 1 in 184 |
| California | #35 | 1,044 | 1 in 199 |
| North Dakota | #35 | 31 | 1 in 137 |
| Arizona | #36 | 137 | 1 in 171 |
| Nevada | #36 | 34 | 1 in 149 |
| Montana | #37 | 27 | 1 in 144 |
| Louisiana | #38 | 161 | 1 in 175 |
| Mississippi | #38 | 78 | 1 in 176 |
| Oklahoma | #38 | 108 | 1 in 174 |
| Wyoming | #38 | 17 | 1 in 140 |
| Hawaii | #39 | 27 | 1 in 181 |
| Utah | #39 | 75 | 1 in 186 |
| Idaho | #41 | 31 | 1 in 179 |
| Arkansas | #42 | 63 | 1 in 197 |
| Pennsylvania | #44 | 351 | 1 in 196 |
| West Virginia | #47 | 47 | 1 in 201 |
| New Mexico | #53 | 37 | 1 in 256 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Katherine
Momentum · girls
Falling
- 11 spots since 2024 (#175 → #186)
- 50 spots since 2020 (#136 → #186)
- 102 spots since 2015 (#84 → #186)
- Biggest jump: 13 spots in 1977 (#57 → #44)
- Biggest drop: 21 spots in 2021 (#136 → #157)
Rise & fade · girls
111 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1991 at #25 (11,495 births)
- Births halved by 2008, 17 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 132 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 132 yrs · run 1940–2016
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 160
- Highest: 1 in 160 girls born in 1988 were named Katherine (0.63%)
- Latest: 1 in 962 girls born in 2025 (0.10%)
- Its best rank, #25 in 1991, was only 1 in 163 (0.61%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1980s
- 15.2% of all girls named Katherine (99,175) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 6,922 | #50 (1885) | #54 |
| 1890s | 9,408 | #59 (1890) | #63 |
| 1900s | 12,105 | #53 (1909) | #62 |
| 1910s | 36,884 | #48 (1914) | #52 |
| 1920s | 42,745 | #45 (1920) | #63 |
| 1930s | 25,193 | #85 (1930) | #98 |
| 1940s | 39,912 | #59 (1949) | #78 |
| 1950s | 66,855 | #55 (1951) | #66 |
| 1960s | 50,619 | #70 (1969) | #80 |
| 1970s | 54,048 | #36 (1979) | #56 |
| 1980s | 99,175 | #26 (1989) | #32 |
| 1990s | 96,885 | #25 (1991) | #30 |
| 2000s | 65,356 | #33 (2000) | #39 |
| 2010s | 34,144 | #61 (2011) | #87 |
| 2020s | 10,675 | #136 (2020) | #165 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Katherine in 1986
girls
#28
10,570 births · 1 in 162 girls
boys
#1,511
44 births · 1 in 41,853 boys
Top girls' names in 1986
Top boys' names in 1986
More about 1986
girls
1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 162 of them was named Katherine, which outranked 99.8% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Katherine
Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 41,853 of them was named Katherine, which outranked 80.7% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Katherine
- #1,493Stanford45
- #1,493Wes45
- #1,493Zebulon45
- #1,511Katherine44
- #1,511Blane44
- #1,511Domonique44
- #1,511Edison44
- #1,535Amin43
- #1,535Ammon43
- #1,535Angela43
Tied with 23 names at #1,511; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.