Kateria
A feminine name of Russian origin meaning "pure" or "innocent".
Name Census estimates that about 233 living Americans carry the first name Kateria. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kateria today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kateria births was 1999 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kateria. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
233
~ 1 in 1,471,049 Americans
Peak year
1999
19 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2006 SSA rank
#14,328
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Kateria: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kateria from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 123 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Kateria remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kateria by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kateria during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Katerias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kateria
The name Kateria has its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "katharos," meaning "pure" or "clear." It is believed to have been first used as a personal name around the 5th century BC, with variations like Katheria and Kataira appearing in historical records from that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kateria can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned a woman by that name in his work "The Histories." This text, written in the 5th century BC, provides valuable insight into the use of the name during that period.
In the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Kateria gained popularity among the Eastern Orthodox Christian community. It was often associated with the concept of purity and was sometimes given to women who devoted their lives to religious pursuits.
Notable historical figures bearing the name Kateria include Kateria of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr revered by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Another prominent individual was Kateria Petraliphas, a 12th-century Byzantine noblewoman and philanthropist known for her charitable works.
During the Renaissance period, which began in the 14th century, the name Kateria saw a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. One notable figure from this era was Kateria Sforza (1463-1509), an Italian noblewoman and military leader who played a significant role in the Italian Wars.
In the realm of literature, the name Kateria was immortalized in the works of William Shakespeare. In his play "The Taming of the Shrew," one of the characters is named Katherina, a variant of Kateria. This play, written in the late 16th century, further contributed to the name's recognition and usage.
Another historical figure bearing the name Kateria was Kateria the Great (1729-1796), the renowned Empress of Russia, whose reign was marked by significant political and cultural reforms. Her influence and legacy have left an indelible mark on Russian history.
While the name Kateria has roots in ancient Greece and has been used throughout various periods in history, its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time. However, its association with purity and its rich historical legacy have ensured that it remains a respected and meaningful name choice for many.
People
Kateria + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kateria as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kateria: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kateria?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 233 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kateria going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,471,049 US residents.
Is Kateria a common name?
We classify Kateria as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 242 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kateria most popular?
The single biggest year for Kateria was 1999, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kateria is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kateria a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kateria in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.