Kate Girl

Popularity: #457 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAYT //keɪt//

Origin: English; Greek; Latin

Meaning: English: pure; Greek: each; Latin: chaste

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kate is derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, which is believed to have originated from the word "katharos," meaning "pure." This name was adopted into Latin as Catharina, which then evolved into various forms in different languages, including the Old French form Catherine. The name Kate emerged as a diminutive of Catherine, particularly in English-speaking countries, during the medieval period.

The transition into English was facilitated by the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which introduced many Norman names into the English lexicon, including variations of Catherine. Historically, the name Kate has been associated with several notable figures.

One of the most prominent is Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, whose feast day is celebrated on November 25. Her story was popularized in medieval hagiographies, contributing to the name's prominence in Christian contexts.

Additionally, the name gained further recognition through the influence of royal figures, such as Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century, and Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia in the 18th century, both of whom left significant marks on history. Culturally, the name Kate has resonated through literature and the arts, often symbolizing purity and strength.

It has been featured in various works, including Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," where the character Katherine is a strong-willed woman, reflecting the name's association with assertiveness and independence. The diminutive form Kate has become widely accepted and cherished, further embedding the name in cultural narratives.

Overall, the name Kate carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its etymological origins and the influential figures who bore it.

Famous people named Kate

In this section, you will find notable people named Kate. 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 Kate who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kate 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.

Kate Winslet is an actress best known for Titanic, The Reader, and Steve Jobs.

Kate Hudson is an actress best known for Almost Famous, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Bride Wars.

Kate Beckinsale is an actress best known for Underworld, Pearl Harbor, and Serendipity.

Kate Mara is an actress best known for House of Cards, The Martian, and Fantastic Four.

Kate Upton is a model and actress best known for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, The Other Woman, and The Layover.

Kate McKinnon is a comedian and actress best known for Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters, and The Spy Who Dumped Me.

Kate Nash is a singer-songwriter best known for Foundations, Do-Wah-Doo, and Pumpkin Soup.

Kate Gosselin is a television personality best known for Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Kate Plus 8.

Kate Linder is an actress best known for The Young and the Restless.

Fictional characters named Kate

The following list of fictional characters named Kate is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Kate Austen is a fictional character from the TV series Lost. She is a skilled fugitive with a complex past who becomes a key member of the survivors on the mysterious island.

Kate Bishop is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a young archer and a member of the Young Avengers, known for her determination and resourcefulness.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kate, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EmilyLucyAnnaGraceClaireSophie

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kate. 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.

KatherineKaitlynKaraKaylaKendraKylieCaitlinKira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kate was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Kate has ranked as high as #303 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Kate has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kate 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 Kate 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 Kate.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 576 0 576
2024 572 0 572
2023 640 0 640
2022 695 0 695
2021 758 0 758
2020 765 0 765
2019 989 0 989
2018 1,163 0 1,163
2017 1,170 0 1,170
2016 1,389 0 1,389
2015 1,477 0 1,477
2014 1,620 0 1,620
2013 1,738 0 1,738
2012 1,643 0 1,643
2011 1,791 0 1,791
2010 1,490 0 1,490
2009 1,989 0 1,989
2008 2,421 0 2,421
2007 2,550 0 2,550
2006 2,441 0 2,441
2005 2,409 5 2,404
2004 2,227 9 2,218
2003 2,055 0 2,055
2002 1,667 0 1,667
2001 1,633 7 1,626
2000 1,397 0 1,397
1999 1,400 0 1,400
1998 1,139 0 1,139
1997 894 0 894
1996 811 0 811
1995 718 0 718
1994 752 0 752
1993 785 0 785
1992 839 0 839
1991 979 0 979
1990 1,038 0 1,038
1989 1,090 10 1,080
1988 1,153 0 1,153
1987 1,454 5 1,449
1986 1,453 11 1,442
1985 1,497 6 1,491
1984 1,558 5 1,553
1983 1,338 5 1,333
1982 1,341 0 1,341
1981 1,397 0 1,397
1980 1,337 8 1,329
1979 1,268 8 1,260
1978 998 0 998
1977 828 0 828
1976 530 0 530
1975 477 0 477
1974 352 0 352
1973 275 0 275
1972 257 0 257
1971 225 0 225
1970 294 0 294
1969 224 0 224
1968 195 0 195
1967 172 0 172
1966 179 0 179
1965 203 0 203
1964 211 0 211
1963 207 0 207
1962 218 0 218
1961 220 0 220
1960 208 0 208
1959 173 0 173
1958 156 0 156
1957 163 0 163
1956 108 0 108
1955 121 0 121
1954 101 0 101
1953 117 0 117
1952 101 0 101
1951 112 0 112
1950 107 0 107
1949 111 0 111
1948 109 0 109
1947 120 0 120
1946 89 0 89
1945 76 0 76
1944 89 0 89
1943 102 0 102
1942 101 0 101
1941 111 0 111
1940 94 0 94
1939 107 0 107
1938 95 0 95
1937 81 0 81
1936 95 0 95
1935 105 0 105
1934 94 0 94
1933 83 0 83
1932 97 0 97
1931 99 0 99
1930 111 0 111
1929 122 0 122
1928 131 0 131
1927 151 0 151
1926 164 0 164
1925 173 0 173
1924 222 0 222
1923 225 0 225
1922 234 0 234
1921 289 0 289
1920 255 0 255
1919 309 0 309
1918 302 0 302
1917 322 0 322
1916 318 0 318
1915 344 5 339
1914 311 0 311
1913 257 0 257
1912 260 0 260
1911 216 0 216
1910 206 0 206
1909 183 0 183
1908 191 0 191
1907 184 0 184
1906 196 0 196
1905 183 0 183
1904 213 0 213
1903 202 0 202
1902 218 5 213
1901 196 0 196
1900 297 0 297
1899 219 0 219
1898 297 0 297
1897 267 0 267
1896 303 0 303
1895 262 0 262
1894 328 0 328
1893 323 0 323
1892 345 0 345
1891 305 0 305
1890 352 0 352
1889 362 0 362
1888 360 0 360
1887 331 0 331
1886 335 0 335
1885 309 0 309
1884 344 0 344
1883 294 0 294
1882 293 0 293
1881 267 0 267
1880 299 0 299

Top States for Kate (2024)

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
TX 75
14%
CA 50
9%
FL 28
5%
IN 27
5%
UT 24
4%
TN 21
4%
NY 21
4%
NC 18
3%
GA 18
3%
PA 17
3%
IL 17
3%
LA 17
3%
OH 17
3%
MI 15
3%
OK 15
3%
WA 15
3%
MN 14
3%
MO 14
3%
NJ 14
3%
WI 12
2%
AZ 11
2%
AR 10
2%
CO 10
2%
IA 8
1%
VA 8
1%
AL 7
1%
KY 7
1%
ID 6
1%
SC 6
1%
MS 6
1%
SD 6
1%
MA 6
1%
MD 5
1%