Kathleen: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “pure”
- Origin
- Irish
- Say it
- kath-LEEN · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Girls
Anglicized form of the Irish Caitlín, itself from Katherine/Catherine. Kathleen became established as an English-language form in its own right.
How popular is Kathleen?
Babies named Kathleen in 2024220
2024 rank#1,107 girls
Peak year1949
Total US babies since 1880715,129
Kathleen is fading: recent use is about 60% of its level ten years before.
Names like Kathleen
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Kathleen questions
What does the name Kathleen mean?
Kathleen means "pure". It comes from Irish. Anglicized form of the Irish Caitlín, itself from Katherine/Catherine. Kathleen became established as an English-language form in its own right.
Is Kathleen a boy or girl name?
Kathleen is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Kathleen?
220 US babies were named Kathleen in 2024. Its peak year was 1949.
How do you pronounce Kathleen?
Kathleen is usually pronounced kath-LEEN.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.