Kathryn means pure — the YN-ending spelling of Katherine that swaps the I for a Y, creating a slightly more modern visual identity. Kathryn Hahn is one of Hollywood's funniest and most versatile actresses. Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Kathryn Janeway was the first female starship captain. Seven letters of YN-purity, Agatha-All-Along witchcraft, and the first woman to captain a starship.
Kathryn is the YN-ending variant of Katherine meaning pure. Kathryn Hahn is one of Hollywood's most beloved actresses (Agatha All Along, WandaVision). Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Kathryn Janeway was the first female starship captain in the franchise.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: YN-ending variant used for centuries; Kathryn Hahn (born 1973).
3
Today
Kathryn remains a beloved choice, ranking #524 in the US. 456,128 babies have been named Kathryn since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Kathryn?
1952peak year
The name Kathryn reached its peak in 1952, with 8,504 registrations (ranked #48). It had been quietly building for over half a century before that, first appearing in records in 1880. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #524 today, averaging about 632 new babies per year. Kathryn has been declining in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 456,128 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Kathryn's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — pure achievement. People named Kathryn tend to be pure, commanding, and gifted at being the first woman to captain anything.
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