From the Greek name Aikaterine. The etymology is debated: it could derive from an earlier Greek name Hekaterine, itself from hekateros meaning "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess Hecate; it could be related to Greek aikia meaning "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek katharos meaning "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.