Ekaterina

Ekaterina belongs to the international Katherine family and is used in Bulgarian and as a Roman-letter spelling of the Russian name Екатерина. Its older Greek source is Aikaterine, whose exact derivation is debated. The familiar meaning pure comes from a longstanding association with Greek katharos, rather than a securely established original translation.

The same Russian name may appear as Yekaterina in English, with the opening y helping indicate its initial sound. That makes transliteration part of the choice rather than a different name meaning. Olympic figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva is a recognizable bearer of this spelling. For families connecting an English-language setting with Russian or Bulgarian heritage, Ekaterina preserves a fuller traditional form than the shorter Katerina while remaining part of the same broad name family.