Katarzyna

Meaning of Katarzyna

Katarzyna, a feminine given name rooted in Polish onomastics, represents the Slavic cognate of the Greek-derived Katherine—itself ultimately originating from the Hellenistic adjective katharos, denoting purity. Phonologically, it is articulated in Polish as kah-TAH-zhi-nah (/kat̪aˈʐɨna/), featuring the characteristic voiced retroflex fricative /ʐ/ and the primary stress on the penultimate syllable. Etymologically and historically, Katarzyna is inextricably linked to the veneration of St. Catherine of Alexandria, whose widespread cult in medieval Catholic Europe reinforced its liturgical and cultural significance within Catholic tradition. Morphologically, the name’s feminine suffix -yna adheres to Slavic naming conventions, situating it within a coherent onomastic taxonomy. Among the Polish diaspora in New York, the name has exhibited episodic yet measurable usage: between 1985 and 2001 annual registrations fluctuated between five and ten newborns, corresponding to birth-episode ranks consistently positioned within the lower 200s. As such, Katarzyna embodies both a reverent connection to ecclesiastical heritage and a sustained, if modest, presence in contemporary North American birth records.