Catherine Lai

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Catherine Lai — Greek
578K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Catherine Lai is a name that combines Greek origins. The first name Catherine is a feminine given name of Greek origin. Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christian era it came to be associated with the Greek adjective καθαρός (katharos), meaning 'pure'. This influenced the name's English spelling, giving rise to variants Katharine and Catharine. The spelling with a middle 'a' was more common in the past. The surname Lai: Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua. Catherine is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 578K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Catherine reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Catherine

Greek

Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christian era it came to be associated with the Greek adjective καθαρός (katharos), meaning 'pure'. This influenced the name's English spelling, giving rise to variants Katharine and Catharine. The spelling with a middle 'a' was more common in the past.

Surname: Lai

Vietnamese

Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Catherine is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Catherine by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Catherine Lai

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Catherine Lai:

6
Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

3
Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

3
Personality Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Catherine?
The first name Catherine originates from Greek. Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christian era it came to be associated with the Greek adjective καθαρός (katharos), meaning 'pure'. This influenced the name's English spelling, giving rise to variants Katharine and Catharine. The spelling with a middle 'a' was more common in the past.
When was Catherine most popular?
The name Catherine reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Lai?
The surname Lai originates from Vietnamese. Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua.
What are the origins of the name Catherine Lai?
The name Catherine Lai combines two different traditions: the first name Catherine has Greek roots, while the surname Lai originates from Vietnamese.
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