Spelling comparison
Katherine vs Catherine
Side by side for 2025, Katherine has the higher published total (1,670) and Catherine has 972. Katherine is 63.2% of the pair and Catherine is 36.8%.
US national data through 2025 · Source retrieved
Data updated
A reviewed spelling override keeps this pair together. Katherine profile · Catherine profile
Katherine versus Catherine is a spelling comparison, not a comparison of two different names. Each figure belongs to one exact spelling. Katherine and Catherine use the same number of letters, so the contrast is which letters appear. Katherine uses “K” where Catherine uses “C”, before “atherine”.
In years when both spellings were published, the lead changed once. The latest crossover is 1973, when Katherine moved ahead of Catherine on the combined published count (4,432 to 4,276).
Katherine is first published in these national files in 1880, and Catherine in 1880. Katherine’s larger 2025 category is female. Catherine’s larger 2025 category is female. Catherine led 9 decades and Katherine led 6 decades among decades in which both spellings have a published total.
Inside 2016–2025, the widest combined gap was 1,607 records in 2016, and the closest year was 2025 (a gap of 698). Of the combined 2025 records for this pair (2,642), Katherine is 63.2% and Catherine is 36.8%.
2016–2025, count and rank
2016 belongs to Katherine. Katherine had 3,276 female records (rank #91); Catherine had 1,669 female records (rank #195). The gap that year was 1,607 records. For 2017, compare the categories separately: Katherine had 2,861 female records (rank #105); Catherine had 1,584 female records (rank #198). Katherine led 2017 by 1,277 published records (2,861 to 1,584), and the smaller spelling is Catherine. Katherine was the higher published spelling in 2018, with 2,677 female records (rank #112) against 1,507 female records (rank #205) for Catherine. The 2019 national file shows Katherine led 2019 by 1,138 published records (2,450 to 1,312). Read as exact spellings: Katherine had 2,450 female records (rank #120); Catherine had 1,312 female records (rank #241). 2020: Katherine led 2020 by 836 published records (1,991 to 1,155). Katherine and Catherine stay separate rows; 1,991 and 1,155 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2021, Katherine had 1,821 female records (rank #157); Catherine had 1,005 female records (rank #323). Katherine led 2021 by 816 published records (1,821 to 1,005). 2022 belongs to Katherine. Katherine had 1,742 female records (rank #166); Catherine had 981 female records (rank #328). The gap that year was 761 records. For 2023, compare the categories separately: Katherine had 1,705 female records (rank #170); Catherine had 933 female records (rank #331). Katherine led 2023 by 772 published records (1,705 to 933), and the smaller spelling is Catherine. Katherine was the higher published spelling in 2024, with 1,746 female records (rank #175) against 956 female records (rank #324) for Catherine. The 2025 national file shows Katherine led 2025 by 698 published records (1,670 to 972). Read as exact spellings: Katherine had 1,670 female records (rank #186); Catherine had 972 female records (rank #314).
| Year | Katherine female count | Katherine female rank | Katherine male count | Katherine male rank | Catherine female count | Catherine female rank | Catherine male count | Catherine male rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,276 | 91 | — | — | 1,669 | 195 | — | — |
| 2017 | 2,861 | 105 | — | — | 1,584 | 198 | — | — |
| 2018 | 2,677 | 112 | — | — | 1,507 | 205 | — | — |
| 2019 | 2,450 | 120 | — | — | 1,312 | 241 | — | — |
| 2020 | 1,991 | 136 | — | — | 1,155 | 267 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,821 | 157 | — | — | 1,005 | 323 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,742 | 166 | — | — | 981 | 328 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,705 | 170 | — | — | 933 | 331 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,746 | 175 | — | — | 956 | 324 | — | — |
| 2025 | 1,670 | 186 | — | — | 972 | 314 | — | — |
Combined counts, 1880–2025
Each line adds the published female and male counts for that spelling. A gap is a year with no published observation, not a zero. Katherine is the warm line and Catherine is the cool line.
Which spelling led each decade
The 1880s files give 6,927 published records to Katherine and 8,933 to Catherine, so Catherine led the decade. Catherine was the 1890s leader, 14,523 published records against 9,413 for Katherine. The 1900s files give 12,139 published records to Katherine and 22,056 to Catherine, so Catherine led the decade. Catherine was the 1910s leader, 65,970 published records against 36,965 for Katherine. The 1920s files give 42,911 published records to Katherine and 79,136 to Catherine, so Catherine led the decade. Catherine was the 1930s leader, 50,269 published records against 25,332 for Katherine. The 1940s files give 40,042 published records to Katherine and 62,269 to Catherine, so Catherine led the decade. Catherine was the 1950s leader, 109,059 published records against 67,002 for Katherine. The 1960s files give 50,775 published records to Katherine and 77,007 to Catherine, so Catherine led the decade. Katherine was the 1970s leader, 54,251 published records against 44,023 for Catherine. The 1980s files give 99,625 published records to Katherine and 42,631 to Catherine, so Katherine led the decade. Katherine was the 1990s leader, 97,053 published records against 40,843 for Catherine. The 2000s files give 65,475 published records to Katherine and 29,736 to Catherine, so Katherine led the decade. Katherine was the 2010s leader, 34,165 published records against 17,154 for Catherine. The 2020s files give 10,675 published records to Katherine and 6,002 to Catherine, so Katherine led the decade.
Top states in 2025
Katherine’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are Texas (229), California (160), Florida (101), North Carolina (81), New York (77). Catherine’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are Texas (120), California (88), North Carolina (58), Florida (46), New York (45). Texas, California, Florida are in the top states for both spellings. A state can rank differently for each spelling because the counts are not merged.