Katerina means pure — the Slavic/Greek form of Katherine, from the Greek katharos. Katerina is the form used across Russia, Czech Republic, and Greece. The Taming of the Shrew's Katerina is Shakespeare's fiercest woman. Four syllables of Greek-purity through the most Slavic-authentic calligraphy and Shakespeare's most untameable character.
The Taming of the Shrew's Katerina is Shakespeare's fiercest.
The Slavic/Greek form is the most authentic.
Four syllables with a regal, European sound: kah-teh-REE-nah.
The meaning pure carries Greek-katharos depth.
Kat is a sharp embedded nickname.
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The vibe of Katerina
pureSlavicGreekKatherinekatharosTaming of the ShrewShakespearefiercestregal
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Origin & history of Katerina
Greek katharos (pure)→Slavic/Greek Katerina
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Greek roots
Katerina is the Slavic/Greek form of Katherine meaning pure. It is used across Russia, Czech Republic, and Greece. Shakespeare's Katerina (Taming of the Shrew) is his fiercest female character.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Slavic/Greek form; Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
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Today
Katerina remains a beloved choice, ranking #1308 in the US. 7,866 babies have been named Katerina since 1954.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Katerina?
1998peak year
The name Katerina reached its peak in 1998, with 259 registrations (ranked #822). It first surfaced in U.S. records in 1954, roughly 44 years before its peak. Since the peak, the name has eased to well outside the top 1,000 (around #1308) today, averaging about 180 new babies per year. Katerina's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 7,866 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Katerina's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — untameable leadership. People named Katerina tend to be pure, fierce, and gifted at being the most untameable woman Shakespeare could imagine.
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