UK girl's name
Kathrina
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "pure" or "innocent".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kathrina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kathrina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Kathrina is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Kathrina. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kathrina ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Kathrina.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kathrina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Kathrina mean?
Kathrina is a feminine given name derived from the ancient Greek name Aikaterine, which itself is a combination of the Greek words "katharos" meaning "pure" and "hekatos" meaning "each of two." The name Aikaterine evolved into the Latin form Catherina, which later became Katherine in English and Katharina in German.
The earliest known use of the name Kathrina dates back to the 4th century AD, when it was borne by St. Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr and one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic Church. St. Catherine is said to have been a highly educated young woman who converted to Christianity and was later executed for her faith during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maxentius.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Kathrina became popular among European nobility and royalty, particularly in Germany and the surrounding regions. One notable historical figure was Kathrina of Saxe-Lauenburg (1487-1561), a German princess who married into the House of Brandenburg and played a significant role in the Reformation.
In the 16th century, the name Kathrina was brought to the Americas by German and Dutch settlers, where it took on various spellings and pronunciations, including Katrina and Catherina. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the New World was Kathrina von Bora (1499-1552), the wife of the Protestant reformer Martin Luther.
During the Renaissance period, the name Kathrina gained prominence in the arts and literature. The Italian painter Raphael immortalized the name in his famous painting "St. Catherine of Alexandria" (1507), while the English dramatist William Shakespeare included a character named Katharina in his play "The Taming of the Shrew" (1592).
Other notable historical figures who bore the name Kathrina include:
1. Kathrina Zell (1498-1562), a German Protestant reformer and author. 2. Kathrina von Zimmern (1528-1591), a German noblewoman and author. 3. Kathrina Sophie of Brandenburg-Küstrin (1626-1705), a German princess and regent. 4. Kathrina Leiningen-Westerburg (1646-1695), a German countess and landowner. 5. Kathrina Wilhoff (1759-1829), a German writer and educator.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Kathrina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kathrina was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kathrina
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kathrina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kathrina in the UK right now?
In 1996, Kathrina was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kathrina most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Kathrina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kathrina?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "pure" or "innocent".
How many people are called Kathrina in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Kathrina across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.