Catherine

Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English
Pronounced: ka-tə-REEN (French), ka-TREEN (French), KATH-ə-rin (English), KATH-rin (English)

French form of Katherine, and also a common English variant.

From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) “each of the two”; it could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek αικια (aikia) “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 καθαρος (katharos) “pure”, and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.

The name was borne a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel. The saint was initially venerated in Syria, and the name was introduced to Western Europe by returning crusaders. It has been common in England since the 12th century in many different spellings, with Katherine and Catherine becoming standard in the later Middle Ages.

Famous bearers of the name include Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century mystic, and Catherine de’ Medici, a 16th-century French queen. It was also borne by three of Henry VIII’s wives, including Katherine of Aragon, and by two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.

Lisa

Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Italian
Pronounced: LEE-sə (English), LEE-zah (German)

Short form of ELIZABETH, ELISABETH, ELISABET or ELISABETTA. This is the name of the subject of one of the world’s most famous paintings, the ‘Mona Lisa’, the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo by Leonardo da Vinci.

Thanks to BehindTheName.com.