Katharine

Katharine is an English and German form of the Greek name Aikaterine, whose exact origin remains uncertain; one influential folk etymology links it to the Greek katharos, meaning pure, which shaped the spelling of many later Latin and medieval forms. The name spread widely through early Christian veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary martyr of the fourth century. Katharine has been borne by numerous notable figures, including Katharine Hepburn, the American actress, and Katharine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII of England. Closely related forms include Katherine, Catherine, Katarina, Katrina, and Karen.