Katherine is a distinctive choice, ranked #594 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Katherine in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#594
US Rank #175
About the Name Katherine
Katherine is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 49 places over five years. Its high point was #48 in 1996, and it now sits at #594. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 8 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Katherine is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school β standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #175, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Katherine
Unlikely. With around 66 UK babies named Katherine per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Katherine in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Katherine has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 49 places in the last five years. Its peak was #48 in 1996. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Katherine is more popular in the US (#175) than in the UK (#594). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Katherine include: Katherine Knight β Katherine Mary Knight is an Australian murderer and the first woman in the country's history to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of...; Katherine Swynford β Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster was the third wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III.; Katherine Schwarzenegger β Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger Pratt is an American author..
Katherine appears in the US top 500 at #175 in 2024 β moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
66
UK babies named Katherine (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 49 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Katherine
Likely around 1 other Katherine in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Katherine
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Katherine Marie Helmond was an American actress. Over an acting career spanning six decades, she was best known for her starring role as Jessica Tate on the sitcom Soap and her co-starring role as Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?.
Katherine Mary Knight is an Australian murderer and the first woman in the country's history to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. She was convicted for the murder of her partner, John Charles Thomas Price, in February 2000, and is currently imprisoned at the Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre in New South Wales.
Katherine Cassavetes was an American actress of Greek origin. She was the mother of actor-director John Cassavetes and mother-in-law of actress Gena Rowlands.
Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster was the third wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III. From her earlier marriage, she is known as Katherine Swynford.