Kate
KAYT · 1 syllable
♀ Female ◎ Greek ◈ 1 syllable
"Pure, clear, unsullied"

From Greek

Kate means pure — the sharpest, most decisive nickname to emerge from the great Katherine/Catherine family. Kate Middleton, Kate Winslet, Kate Blanchett, Kate Moss: the name attracts women who command their fields completely. Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew centres on a Kate who refuses to be tamed. Four letters that sound like a door opening onto competence.

← All girl names
Kate at a glance
MeaningPure, clear, unsullied
OriginGreek
GenderFemale
Syllables1
NumerologyLife Path 1
US Rank (today)#363
Google AdSense — 728×90
Why parents love Kate
  • Kate Middleton (Princess of Wales) is the world's most famous Kate.
  • Shakespeare's Kate is fierce, untameable, and brilliant.
  • Four letters, one syllable — absolute crispness.
  • Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss — the associations are uniformly powerful.
  • It needs no formal version — Kate stands alone.
The vibe of Kate
puredecisivesharproyalShakespeareancommandingcompetentcrisp
Origin & history of Kate
Greek Aikaterinē (possibly pure) Katherine/Catherine short form Kate
1
Greek roots
Kate is the most familiar short form of Katherine/Catherine, from the Greek possibly meaning pure. Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (c. 1593) centres on Katherina (Kate), a fierce, independent woman. Kate has been used independently for centuries. Catherine, Princess of Wales (Kate Middleton) is currently the world's most famous bearer. Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Moss represent the name across film, fashion, and culture. Kate is increasingly used as a standalone name rather than a nickname.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Medieval England as a short form of Katherine; has been independently popular for centuries.
3
Today
Kate remains a beloved choice, ranking #363 in the US. 85,500 babies have been named Kate since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
How popular is Kate?
2007 peak year
Today, Kate ranks around #363 in the United States, with roughly 962 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2007, 2,550 babies were given the name (ranked #136 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2000s. Kate has been declining in recent years. In all, around 85,500 babies have been registered as Kate since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,550 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #136)
962 Avg. per year
(last decade)
9,620 Total registrations
last 10 years
85,500 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #363) Popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Kate
1
Life path number
The Leader
Leadership, independence and pioneering spirit.

Kate's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — pure service. People named Kate tend to be capable, commanding, and oriented toward making things better for everyone around them.

Capable and commanding
Pure-hearted service
Opens doors
Fierce competence
Untameable spirit
K2
A1
T2
E5
Sum: 10 → Life path 1
Personality of Kate
🌟
Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
💡
Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
🔑
Natural authority
Without trying, they earn respect.
Names that sound like Kate

If you love Kate, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

Names that combine with Kate

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Kate.

Middle names for Kate

The right middle name turns Kate into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

Want a personalised middle name for Kate? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.

♡ Generate middle name for Kate →
Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Kate is a beautiful choice.
Save it to your list, share it with your partner, or keep exploring.
← Browse all girl names
Google AdSense — 728×90