Käte

Käte is a variant of the name Käthe and also serves as a pet form of Katharina. The meaning of the name is "the pure" or "the innocent," derived from the ancient Greek word katharós, which means "pure, clean, unblemished."

What does the name Käte mean?

The name Käte is considered a spelling variant of Käthe and is a pet form of Katharina. It carries the meaning "the pure" or, in a broader sense, "the innocent," based on the ancient Greek term katharós for "pure, clean, unblemished." This meaning has been attributed to the name, which developed from the ancient Greek Aikaterine, since the early days of Christianity, although the exact origin is disputed. For more information, see the page on Katharina. Compared to the spelling Käthe, Käte is encountered less frequently. Other variants include Cäthe, Kätha, Kathe, and Käthi. The English equivalent is Kate.

Where does the name Käte come from?

The name Käte has its roots in ancient Greek and means something like "the pure" or "the innocent." It derives from the ancient Greek word katharós (καθαρός), which means "pure, clean, unblemished, clear." There are also other ancient Greek words related to this context, such as hekáteros (ἑκάτερος), meaning "each of the two," hekás (ἑκάς), meaning "far away," or aikía (αἰκία), meaning "torture." The name is rooted in Old German.

How do you pronounce Käte?

The pronunciation of the name Käte is clear and two-syllable. In German, it is usually pronounced as "Kä-te" [ˈkɛːtə], with the name starting with a prolonged umlaut that gives it a special sound quality. The hard sound of the "k" sets a precise accent. The unstressed final syllable provides a gentle conclusion. These characteristics give Käte a classic, down-to-earth, and present quality - clear in structure and soft in its ending.

When is the name day of Käte?

The most important name day for Käte is celebrated on November 25th, in memory of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Popularity

In Germany, Käte is a relatively common first name. Currently, it ranks 4,045th on the list of the most popular female first names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2011 at 1,286th place. In the last ten years, Käte has been given as a first name about 40 times, placing it 4,008th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,147th.

Nicknames & pet names

Kätchen / Käti

Famous people

• Käthe Kollwitz (graphic artist, painter & sculptor)