Kathyrn
A girl's name of Greek origin with 3,172 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Kathyrn is not in the current national top 1,000. It peaked at #105 births in 1953 and has since stepped back from the mainstream.
With records stretching from 1882 to 2018, Kathyrn has over 136 years of American history behind it — long enough to have been worn by great-grandparents and potentially rediscovered by today’s parents.
Kathyrn is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Kathyrn is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a phonetic spelling variant of Kathryn or Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterinē, often associated with the Greek katharos, meaning 'pure.' The transposition of the y creates a slightly different written form of the familiar name.
Kathyrn appears in American records primarily in the mid-20th century as a variant of Kathryn. Like all Katherine variants, it carries centuries of saints, queens, and strong women behind it — a heritage of purity and strength.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Kathyrn is rooted in the Greek tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1882 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Kathyrn’s 3,172 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kathyrn has 108+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1882.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 115 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 191 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 310 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 266 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 447 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 866 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 370 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 158 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 227 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 166 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 36 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 7 | — |
The Story of Kathyrn
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1953, Kathyrn is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Kathyrn are most likely born between 1943 and 1963.
How rare is Kathyrn?
With 3,172 total births on record, Kathyrn remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1882, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 866 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kathyrn by the numbers
- Would fill 66 school buses
- Meeting one Kathyrn per day would take 8.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(108 years, 1882–2018)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 | #14720 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14053 |
| 2009 | 6 | #16216 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14579 |
| 2007 | 7 | #14676 |
| 2006 | 13 | #8989 |
| 2005 | 9 | #11364 |
| 2004 | 11 | #9567 |
| 2003 | 17 | #6748 |
| 2002 | 14 | #7622 |
| 2001 | 14 | #7524 |
| 2000 | 17 | #6334 |
| 1999 | 18 | #5774 |
| 1998 | 13 | #7319 |
| 1997 | 18 | #5509 |
| 1996 | 15 | #6208 |
| 1995 | 15 | #6105 |
| 1994 | 27 | #3952 |
| 1993 | 18 | #5322 |
| 1992 | 21 | #4768 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kathyrn a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kathyrn most popular?
How popular is the name Kathyrn?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1882–2018