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Käthe is a German diminutive form of Katharina, which derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, whose meaning is debated but commonly associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure. The name became widely used in German-speaking countries as an affectionate short form, much as Kate and Katie function in English. It is closely associated with the German artist and printmaker Käthe Kollwitz, whose work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought the name lasting cultural prominence. Related forms include Katarina, Katharina, Katrin, and the anglicized Katherine.