Katharina

Katharina is the German and Scandinavian form of a name ultimately derived from the Greek Aikaterine, whose precise root remains debated; it was early associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure, which influenced its spelling across European languages. The name gained widespread use throughout medieval Christendom largely through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a revered early Christian martyr. It has long been borne by European royalty and nobility, including the Holy Roman Empress Katharina and several Russian empresses known by cognate forms. Related forms include Katherine, Catherine, Katarina, Katarzyna, and Katrin.