Kathryn

The name Kathryn is a girl's name meaning "pure". Although the Kathryn spelling feels like a modern streamlining of this ancient royal and saints' name, it is in fact found back through history. At least one of Henry the Eighth's unfortunately wives sometimes spelled her name as Kathryn. While Katherine is the number one spelling of the name these days and Catherine number 2, the Kathryn form is well-used if not exactly modern-feeling. Two recent Kathryns of note: Academy Award-winning film director Kathryn Bigelow and bestselling novelist Kathryn Stockett.