What does Catriona mean?
Catriona is the Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine, traditionally “pure.”
What does Mhairi mean?
Mhairi is the Scottish Gaelic form of Mary, sharing its debated meanings.
Catriona vs Mhairi
Which is more popular?
Catriona and Mhairi are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Catriona | Mhairi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pure | Of debated origin |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kah-TREE-nah | VAH-ree |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1965 | 1997 |
| Peak year | 1998 (32) | 1997 (5) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Catriona
Mhairi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Catriona | Mhairi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 49 | 0 |
| 2010s | 127 | 0 |
| 2000s | 207 | 0 |
| 1990s | 152 | 5 |
| 1980s | 97 | 0 |
| 1970s | 27 | 0 |
| 1960s | 24 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Catriona or Mhairi more popular?
Catriona and Mhairi are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Catriona and Mhairi?
Catriona means Pure (Scottish origin), while Mhairi means Of debated origin (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Catriona or Mhairi?
In US records, Catriona first appears in 1965 and Mhairi in 1997, so Catriona has the longer recorded history.