Katherina

Katherina is a Latinate form of Katherine, itself derived through Latin and Late Greek from the Greek name Aikaterine, whose original meaning is debated but was early associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure. The name spread widely throughout medieval Europe through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary early Christian martyr. Katherina appears as a notable literary bearer in William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew, lending the form a particular cultural resonance in English. Closely related forms include Katharina, Katarina, Katerina, and the anglicized Katherine and Catherine.