Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Kathleen
GirlIrish, Greek· “Irish form of Catherine; meaning uncertain”
- Meaning
- Irish form of Catherine; meaning uncertain (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Irish, Greek
- Pronunciation
- kath-LEEN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,156
- US babies 2025
- 201
- Best rank
- #9 (1949)
- Peak year
- 1951
Meaning and origin of Kathleen
Kathleen is often said to mean “Irish form of Catherine; meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Irish and Greek roots.
Kathleen is an anglicized form of the Irish Caitlín, which comes from the Norman French Cateline, a form of Catherine. The meaning of Catherine is uncertain; it was long associated with the Greek katharos, "pure", which influenced the spelling with th, but the true origin may be different. In Irish poetry and song Kathleen Ní Houlihan became a symbolic personification of Ireland. Kathleen was very popular in the United States in the mid twentieth century. It is warm, familiar and gently Irish in character. Kathy, Kat and Kate are classic nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Cathleen, Kathlene.
Popularity over time
Kathleen has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 141 different years. Its best national rank was #9 in 1949, and the most babies received it in 1951, when 26,716 were named Kathleen. In 2025, 201 babies were named Kathleen, and it ranked #1,156 nationally. That is 41% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #91 in 1920, #10 in 1950, #82 in 1980, #204 in 2000, #596 in 2010, and #1,156 in 2025. Of the 713,645 US girls named Kathleen since records began, 31% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 152,981 babies. Since 2010, 5,224 more have been named Kathleen.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Christine, Janice, Gail, and Patricia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kathleen ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #539 | 20 |
| Massachusetts | #541 | 10 |
| Ohio | #769 | 12 |
| Illinois | #884 | 10 |
| North Carolina | #946 | 10 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Kathleen is usually pronounced kath-LEEN, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with K and ends in “-en”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Cathleen and Kathlene.
Middle names for Kathleen
A few middle names that flow with Kathleen: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kathleen
Similar names
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Lists that include Kathleen
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kathleen mean?
Kathleen is often said to mean “Irish form of Catherine; meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Irish and Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Kathleen?
Kathleen has Irish and Greek roots. Kathleen is an anglicized form of the Irish Caitlín, which comes from the Norman French Cateline, a form of Catherine.
Is Kathleen a popular name?
Not especially. Kathleen ranked #1,156 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kathleen a boy or girl name?
Kathleen is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Kathleen?
Kathleen is usually pronounced kath-LEEN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings