Catharine: The real name of Catharine of Alexandria, the patron saint of girls and virgins, was Dorothea. St. Jerome says she had the name of Catharine from the Syriac kethar or kather, "a crown," because she wore the triple crown of martyrdom, virginity, and wisdom. The proper derivation of the word is from the Greek Katharos, "pure"; and, therefore, the correct spelling of the name is Catharine or Katharine. Danish, Catharine; Dutch, Catharina; French, Catherine; German, Katharine; Greek, Katharine; Italian, Cateri

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