Katinka

Katinka is a Dutch and Hungarian diminutive of Katarina, itself the Latinized form of the Greek name Aikaterine, whose root meaning remains debated but is often associated with the Greek word for pure. The name traveled through medieval Europe largely through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, spreading Katarina and its many pet forms across the continent. Katinka is particularly familiar in the Netherlands and Hungary as an affectionate everyday form, carrying a warm, informal character distinct from its more formal parent. Related forms include Katja, Kaatje, Katrien, and Katharina.