Caitríona is an Irish feminine given name, the Gaelic form of Katherine. It is pronounced roughly as "ka-TREE-na" (with a slender first vowel typical of Irish), while its Anglicised variant Catriona is more common in Scotland and the English-speaking world. The name belongs to a rich family of Celtic offshoots of Katherine, including Caitlín (the Irish equivalent of Kathleen) and the diminutive Cáit (Irish Kate). Etymology Caitríona ultimately traces back to the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine), whose exact origin is uncertain. Possible roots include the name of the goddess Hecate, the Greek word ἑκάτερος (hekateros) meaning "each of the two", or a Coptic source meaning "my consecration of your name". By the early Christian era, popular etymology associated the name with καθαρός (katharos) meaning "pure," which led to the spelling Katharina and later Catherine. In Irish, the name underwent Gaelicisation to become Caitríona, as well as Catríona in Scottish Gaelic. Usage and Distribution Caitríona has long been used in Ireland, especially in Irish-speaking areas. Outside Ireland, the Anglicised spelling Catriona is more prevalent, particularly in Scotland (as seen in the novels of Sir Walter Scott, e.g., Catriona) and in Australia. Another common variant is Katriona, which appears in all English-speaking countries. The spelling Caitríona retains the fada (diacritic) that marks the elongated vowel inherent Irish pronunciation. Fadas are commonly omitted in onomastic practice, but their presence indicates the traditional and unaltered/adapted version of the given word.