What does Catriona mean?
Catriona is the Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine, traditionally “pure.”
What does Kirsty mean?
Kirsty is a Scottish form of Christine, “follower of Christ.”
Catriona vs Kirsty
Which is more popular?
Catriona and Kirsty are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Catriona | Kirsty | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pure | Follower of Christ |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kah-TREE-nah | KEER-stee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1965 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 1998 (32) | 1991 (99) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Steady | Vintage |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Catriona
Kirsty
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Catriona | Kirsty |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 49 | 0 |
| 2010s | 127 | 10 |
| 2000s | 207 | 81 |
| 1990s | 152 | 508 |
| 1980s | 97 | 179 |
| 1970s | 27 | 130 |
| 1960s | 24 | 37 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Catriona or Kirsty more popular?
Catriona and Kirsty are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Catriona and Kirsty?
Catriona means Pure (Scottish origin), while Kirsty means Follower of Christ (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Catriona or Kirsty?
In US records, Catriona first appears in 1965 and Kirsty in 1961, so Kirsty has the longer recorded history.