Katherine in Chinese
Katherine in Chinese is 凯瑟琳 (Kǎi Sè Lín).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- pure
Katherine is a name of Greek origin, generally understood to mean "pure". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1980s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Kathryn, Catherine, which share the transliteration 凯瑟琳.
3 ways to write Katherine
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
凯瑟琳
Kǎi Sè Lín
The standard transliteration of Katherine: 凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song"), 瑟 (sè, "a zither (classical)"), 琳 (lín, "beautiful jade"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 凯 (kǎi) carries "ka", 瑟 (sè) carries "the", 琳 (lín) carries "rin". The tone contour is 3-4-2 (dipping, falling, rising).
Character breakdown
33 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 瑟
sè
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
a zither (classical)
- 琳
lín
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
beautiful jade
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
雅洁
Yǎ Jié
Inspired by "pure": 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined") + 洁 (jié, "clean, pure"), expressing purity and clarity.
Why these characters?
The idea of "pure" behind Katherine is rendered by 雅, "elegant, refined"; 洁, "clean, pure", completes it.
Character breakdown
21 strokes total (simplified)- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
- 洁
jié
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
clean, pure
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
凯洁
Kǎi Jié
凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song") + 洁 (jié, "clean, pure"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 凯 (kǎi), the same opening character as the transliteration 凯瑟琳, for the "ka" sound, and replaces the rest with 洁 ("clean, pure") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
17 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 洁
jié
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
clean, pure
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Recent US usage of Katherine
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Katherine ranked 164 among names recorded for girls, with 10,675 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 635,010 girls named Katherine since 1880, with the high point in 1990 (11,624 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #26 to #105 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1990
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 635,010
More About Katherine in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Katherine offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Katherine, you'll find options that work for you.
Katherine is also spelled Kathryn and Catherine — all spellings share the same Chinese characters.
Names with the same root meaning include Katie in Chinese, Kaitlyn in Chinese, Katelyn in Chinese, Caitlin in Chinese, Karen in Chinese, Kathleen in Chinese, Katrina in Chinese, Kaitlin in Chinese, Kate in Chinese, and Caitlyn in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Kathryn in Chinese, Catherine in Chinese, and Katie in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Kaitlyn in Chinese, Katelyn in Chinese, Caitlin in Chinese, Karen in Chinese, and Kathleen in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Katherine, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Katherine to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Katherine in Chinese characters?
凯瑟琳 (Kǎi Sè Lín), or 凱瑟琳 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Katherine?
US Social Security records show 635,010 girls named Katherine since 1880, with the high point in 1990 (11,624 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #26 to #105 among girls.
Is there a Chinese name for Katherine with real meaning?
Try 雅洁 (Yǎ Jié): elegant, refined + clean, pure, inspired by "pure". For something that still sounds like Katherine, 凯洁 (Kǎi Jié) is a middle ground.
Related names and spelling variants
Alyssa
艾丽莎
Greek
Anna
安娜
Hebrew
Caitlin
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Caitlyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Catherine
凯瑟琳
Greek
Danielle
丹妮尔
Hebrew
Heather
希瑟
English
Kaitlin
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Kaitlyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Karen
凯伦
Danish/Greek
Kate
凯特
Greek
Katelyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Kathleen
凯思琳
Irish/Greek
Kathryn
凯瑟琳
Greek
Katie
凯蒂
Greek
Katrina
卡特里娜
Greek
Kimberly
金伯莉
English
Michelle
米歇尔
Hebrew/French
Natalie
娜塔莉
Latin
Rebecca
丽贝卡
Hebrew
Sophia
索菲亚
Greek
Tiffany
蒂芙尼
Greek