Kate Girl

Popularity: #458 · 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 #294 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.

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. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 75
14%
CA 50
9%
FL 28
5%
IN 27
5%
UT 24
5%
TN 21
4%
NY 21
4%
GA 18
3%
NC 18
3%
OH 17
3%
PA 17
3%
IL 17
3%
LA 17
3%
OK 15
3%
WA 15
3%

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.

YearBirths
2024569
2023640
2022695
2021758
2020765
2019989
20181,163
20171,170
20161,389
20151,477
20141,620
20131,738
20121,643
20111,791
20101,490
20091,989
20082,421
20072,550
20062,441
20052,404
20042,218
20032,055
20021,667
20011,626
20001,397
19991,400
19981,139
1997894
1996811
1995718
1994752
1993785
1992839
1991979
19901,038
19891,080
19881,153
19871,449
19861,443
19851,491
19841,553
19831,334
19821,341
19811,396
19801,329
19791,260
1978998
1977828
1976530
1975477
1974352
1973275
1972257
1971226
1970294
1969224
1968196
1967172
1966179
1965204
1964211
1963207
1962218
1961220
1960207
1959173
1958156
1957163
1956108
1955121
1954101
1953117
1952101
1951112
1950107
1949111
1948109
1947120
194689
194576
194489
1943102
1942101
1941111
194094
1939107
193895
193781
193695
1935105
193494
193383
193297
193199
1930111
1929122
1928131
1927151
1926164
1925173
1924222
1923225
1922234
1921289
1920255
1919309
1918302
1917322
1916318
1915339
1914311
1913257
1912260
1911216
1910206
1909183
1908191
1907184
1906196
1905183
1904213
1903202
1902213
1901196
1900297
1899219
1898297
1897267
1896303
1895262
1894328
1893323
1892345
1891305
1890352
1889362
1888360
1887331
1886335
1885309
1884344
1883294
1882293
1881267
1880299