Kate
Kate began as a short form of Katherine, which comes from the Greek "Aikaterine" — possibly from "katharos" (pure). The short form Kate emerged in medieval English and became established as a standalone name. Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, was often called Kate. Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" (c.1592) features Katharina "Kate" Minola as the title character. Kate was a top-100 American name in the late 19th century, declined mid-century, and then had a remarkable revival. It re-entered the top 200 in 2003 and continues to climb. Kate Middleton (born 1982), the Princess of Wales, gave the name a contemporary royal charge — she married Prince William in 2011. Kate Winslet (born 1975), the actress known for "Titanic" (1997) and "The Reader" (2008), gave the name a serious dramatic dimension. I find Kate has a brisk, elegant quality — the single syllable is direct, and the "K" opening is firm. The name sounds both classic and contemporary. Kate has been climbing as a standalone name even as Katherine has declined. Kate is a female name of Greek (via English) origin that means "Pure (short form of Katherine)". Brisk, elegant, and classic. The name sounds direct. Kates tend to be capable. US top 200 since 2003. Rising. Well-known people named Kate include Kate Middleton (Princess of Wales), Kate Winslet (actress), Kate (Shakespeare character), Kate (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Kate include Katherine (full form), Cate (variant), Katie (diminutive), Kat (short form).