Total births
3,323
Girls' name · since 1884
Kathern
Since 1884, U.S. Social Security records show 3,323 babies named Kathern, peaking in 1954. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,323
- total births
- 1884–2006
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
Kathern sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 3,323 recorded since 1884.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kathern has been recorded 3,323 times among girls since 1884, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 2006.
- 3,323 total births
- 1884–2006 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
3,323 girls have been named Kathern since 1884, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2006.
- 3,323
- total births
- 1884–2006
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Kathern was born in this single decade.
1954
Single peak year
96 babies were named Kathern in 1954 - its busiest year on record.
Kathern's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kathern splits its recorded history at 1947: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1890 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1954 peak of 96 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kathern at a glance
Last recorded 2006Peak year
1954
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1884
Kathern popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–2006
- Peak year (1954)
- 96
- Annual births at peak, across 123 years of records
Kathern by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Kathern's strongest decade.
743 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Kathern births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 21
1880s
21 births
- 1890s 29
1890s
29 births
- 1900s 76
1900s
76 births
- 1910s 227
1910s
227 births
- 1920s
1920s
422 births
- 1930s
1930s
465 births
- 1940s
1940s
503 births
- 1950s
1950s
743 births
- 1960s
1960s
348 births
- 1970s 232
1970s
232 births
- 1980s 151
1980s
151 births
- 1990s 90
1990s
90 births
- 2000s 16
2000s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 743 births (22% of all-time use).
How Kathern compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Kathern's total volume
Kathern vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Kathern by state
Where Kathern concentrates geographically, total births since 1884
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | | 179 | 5.4% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 137 | 4.1% |
| #3 | California | | 63 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 57 | 1.7% |
| #5 | Oklahoma | | 39 | 1.2% |
| #6 | Missouri | | 29 | 0.9% |
| #7 | Arkansas | | 28 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 27 | 0.8% |
West Virginia share of Kathern's total US births 5.4%
Even split
179 of 3,323 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Kathern appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kathern? ▼
3,323 babies have been named Kathern since 1884. It was last recorded in 2006. The peak year was 1954 with 96 births.
When was Kathern most popular? ▼
Kathern was most popular in the 1950s decade with 743 total births. The single peak year was 1954.
Where is Kathern most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kathern are West Virginia (179 births), Kentucky (137 births), California (63 births).
How long has the name Kathern been used? ▼
Kathern has been recorded in Social Security data since 1884, spanning 123 years of data through 2006.
What names are similar to Kathern? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kathleen, Katherine, Kathryn, Kathy, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Kathern's data
- Kathern's decade-level peak was the 1950s (743 total births); usage has since declined to 16 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- West Virginia records the most Katherns (179 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. West Virginia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kathern
Nearby Names Like Kathern
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kathern
Kathleen Girl
#1099 713,645 births
Katherine Girl
#175 650,926 births
Kathryn Girl
#714 455,423 births
Kathy Girl
#2699 334,131 births
Katie Girl
#576 241,285 births
Compare Kathern side by side: Kathern vs Kathleen Kathern vs Katherine Kathern vs Kathryn
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Kaytlin #8140
3,324 births · Peak 1999
Rilee #4160
3,324 births · Peak 2008
Janetta #12204
3,321 births · Peak 1954
Rowyn #781
3,326 births · Peak 2025
Joslynn #4319
3,320 births · Peak 2011
Rebecka
3,319 births · Peak 1993
Stephania #7277
3,328 births · Peak 1916
Chelsy #8085
3,318 births · Peak 1992
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1884–2006 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kathern: Baby Name Since 1884 - 3,323 Births, Peak 1954." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kathern. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kathern draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.