Karine Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kah-REEN //kəˈriːn//
Origin: French; Hebrew
Meaning: French: pure; Hebrew: leader
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karine has its roots in the Greek name 'Aikaterine,' which is derived from the Greek word 'katharos,' meaning 'pure.' This name was later adopted into Latin as 'Caterina' and subsequently made its way into various languages, including French and Italian. The name Karine is often considered a variant of the name Karen, which itself is a diminutive form of Katherine, and it has been used in various cultures with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Historically, the name has been associated with several notable figures, including Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, who became a symbol of wisdom and learning. Her feast day is celebrated on November 25, and she is often depicted with a wheel, referencing her martyrdom.
The name gained further prominence through its inclusion in various religious texts and translations, such as the Vulgate Bible, which helped solidify its usage in Christian contexts during the Middle Ages. Culturally, the name Karine, along with its variants, has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing purity and virtue.
In some cultures, it is associated with qualities such as strength and resilience, reflecting the historical significance of its root name, Katherine. The name has also been used in literature and art, contributing to its enduring legacy.
While diminutive forms like Karin or Karyn have emerged, the essence of the name remains tied to its original meanings and associations, ensuring its place in the tapestry of names throughout history.
Famous people named Karine
In this section, you will find notable people named Karine. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Karine who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Karine who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Karine Jean-Pierre is a political commentator and author best known for serving as the White House Press Secretary and for her work with MoveOn.org.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karine, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Karine. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Karine was first seen in the United States in 1917.
Karine has ranked as high as #2432 nationally, which occurred in 1966, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey.
In the past 5 years the name Karine has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Karine is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Karine was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Karine.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 | 7 |
| 2013 | 7 | 7 |
| 2012 | 10 | 10 |
| 2011 | 8 | 8 |
| 2010 | 11 | 11 |
| 2009 | 14 | 14 |
| 2008 | 11 | 11 |
| 2007 | 16 | 16 |
| 2006 | 11 | 11 |
| 2005 | 18 | 18 |
| 2004 | 24 | 24 |
| 2003 | 20 | 20 |
| 2002 | 9 | 9 |
| 2001 | 15 | 15 |
| 2000 | 20 | 20 |
| 1999 | 16 | 16 |
| 1998 | 19 | 19 |
| 1997 | 17 | 17 |
| 1996 | 16 | 16 |
| 1995 | 23 | 23 |
| 1994 | 25 | 25 |
| 1993 | 30 | 30 |
| 1992 | 23 | 23 |
| 1991 | 11 | 11 |
| 1990 | 29 | 29 |
| 1989 | 20 | 20 |
| 1988 | 12 | 12 |
| 1987 | 25 | 25 |
| 1986 | 20 | 20 |
| 1985 | 21 | 21 |
| 1984 | 17 | 17 |
| 1983 | 24 | 24 |
| 1982 | 23 | 23 |
| 1981 | 19 | 19 |
| 1980 | 28 | 28 |
| 1979 | 21 | 21 |
| 1978 | 17 | 17 |
| 1977 | 26 | 26 |
| 1976 | 22 | 22 |
| 1975 | 13 | 13 |
| 1974 | 15 | 15 |
| 1973 | 22 | 22 |
| 1972 | 18 | 18 |
| 1971 | 22 | 22 |
| 1970 | 16 | 16 |
| 1969 | 29 | 29 |
| 1968 | 20 | 20 |
| 1967 | 42 | 42 |
| 1966 | 53 | 53 |
| 1965 | 14 | 14 |
| 1964 | 12 | 12 |
| 1963 | 12 | 12 |
| 1962 | 7 | 7 |
| 1961 | 8 | 8 |
| 1960 | 11 | 11 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 6 | 6 |
| 1957 | 5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 10 | 10 |
| 1954 | 6 | 6 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 |
| 1949 | 6 | 6 |
| 1948 | 6 | 6 |
| 1947 | 5 | 5 |
| 1946 | 5 | 5 |
| 1943 | 9 | 9 |
| 1942 | 8 | 8 |
| 1941 | 5 | 5 |
| 1940 | 10 | 10 |
| 1939 | 7 | 7 |
| 1937 | 10 | 10 |
| 1935 | 5 | 5 |
| 1925 | 6 | 6 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Karine (2012)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |