Kathran
A feminine name of Celtic origin interpreted as "pure".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Kathran. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kathran today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kathran births was 1952 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kathran. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Kathran is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kathrans were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kathran. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1952
5 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1952 SSA rank
#5,977
Tracked since 1952
Popularity
Kathran: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kathran 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 Kathran during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kathran
The given name Kathran has its roots in the ancient Germanic languages, particularly in Old High German, where it was derived from the word "kathar," meaning "pure" or "chaste." The name likely originated around the 6th to 9th centuries AD, during the period when the Germanic tribes were spreading across Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kathran can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a medieval Germanic heroic epic poem dating back to around the 13th century. In this work, Kathran is mentioned as the name of a minor character, a servant or handmaiden.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Kathran remained relatively uncommon, but it did have some notable bearers. Kathran von Nürnberg (1350-1417) was a German noblewoman and landowner who played a role in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire during the 14th and 15th centuries.
In the 16th century, Kathran Bräutigam (1492-1542) was a German Protestant reformer and theologian who worked alongside Martin Luther and participated in the Reformation movement. Her writings and sermons helped spread the teachings of Protestantism throughout Germany.
Moving into the 17th century, Kathran Müller (1603-1673) was a German painter and engraver known for her intricate religious artworks and portraits. Her works can still be found in various churches and museums across Germany and neighboring countries.
Another notable figure bearing the name was Kathran Schneider (1776-1842), a German military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. She played a crucial role in several battles and was decorated for her bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
As the centuries passed, the name Kathran gradually fell out of widespread use, but it continued to be preserved in certain regions and communities, particularly in areas with strong Germanic cultural influences. While not as common as some other Germanic names, Kathran remains a part of the region's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
People
Kathran + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kathran 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
Kathran: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kathran?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kathran 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Kathran a common name?
We classify Kathran as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kathran most popular?
The single biggest year for Kathran was 1952, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kathran is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kathran in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kathran a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kathran 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.
Is Kathran still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kathran in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kathran can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Kathran?
See how many people have the name Kathran on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.