Kathern
A girl's name of Greek origin with 3,323 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Kathern has 3,323 recorded U.S. births across 122+ years, peaking at 96 in 1954. It occupies the space between “never heard of it” and “everyone has one in their class” — a name that feels personal without being obscure.
Kathern is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Kathern is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a phonetic spelling variant of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterinē, often associated with the Greek katharos, meaning 'pure.' This contracted spelling was used primarily in the American South.
Kathern represents the vernacular shortening of Katherine common in Southern American communities, where oral tradition shaped how names were written. It carries the purity of Katherine's heritage in a more compressed, homespun form.
EtymologyShow more
Kathern first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1884. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Greek classification suggests a path from greek linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kathern has 107+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1884.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 90 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 151 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 232 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 348 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 743 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 503 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 465 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 422 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 227 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 76 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 29 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 21 | — |
The Story of Kathern
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1954, Kathern is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Kathern are most likely born between 1944 and 1964.
How rare is Kathern?
With 3,323 total births on record, Kathern remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1884, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 743 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kathern by the numbers
- Would fill 69 school buses
- Meeting one Kathern per day would take 9.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(107 years, 1884–2006)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 | #18589 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15443 |
| 2002 | 5 | #16756 |
| 1999 | 7 | #11989 |
| 1998 | 8 | #10601 |
| 1996 | 11 | #7840 |
| 1994 | 7 | #11105 |
| 1993 | 15 | #6098 |
| 1992 | 13 | #6840 |
| 1991 | 13 | #6779 |
| 1990 | 16 | #5678 |
| 1989 | 10 | #7710 |
| 1988 | 13 | #6055 |
| 1987 | 12 | #6108 |
| 1986 | 16 | #4838 |
| 1985 | 18 | #4352 |
| 1984 | 11 | #6077 |
| 1983 | 15 | #4775 |
| 1982 | 24 | #3473 |
| 1981 | 16 | #4618 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kathern a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kathern most popular?
How popular is the name Kathern?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1884–2006