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Kathleen as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kathleen

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The baby name Kathleen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkæθliːn/ (KATH-leen).

Kathleen is Irish in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: /ˈkæθliːn/ (KATH-leen)

What is the meaning of the name Kathleen ?

The baby name Kathleen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkæθliːn/ (KATH-leen).

Kathleen is Irish in Origin.

Kathleen is the Anglicized form of Irish Caitlín, the Gaelic equivalent of Catherine, ultimately from Greek Aikaterine. The name’s meaning is traditionally given as "pure," via association with Greek katharos, though scholars note the origins are uncertain and may connect to the goddess Hecate or an earlier, non-Greek root. In Irish, Caitlín entered use after the Norman introduction of Catherine and evolved into Kathleen in English-speaking contexts.

Used widely in Ireland and among the diaspora, Kathleen rose strongly in Britain and North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking mid-century before declining with the advent of shorter forms. Common diminutives include Kathy, Kath, Kay, and Kitty; variants and spellings encompass Caitlín, Cathleen, and, in the broader Catherine family, Katherine, Katarzyna, Ekaterina, Catalina, Caterina, and Caitríona. The name carries a warm, traditional feel with Irish cultural resonance.

Kathleen has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kathleen

Kathleen Turner Actor · Born 1954 · United States Kathleen Turner is an American actress best known for films like Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, and Peggy Sue Got Married. Famous for her deep, husky voice, she has won two Golden Globes and also received nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards. Kathleen Quinlan Actor · Born 1954 · United States Kathleen Quinlan is an American actress best known for her Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated role in Apollo 13. She also earned acclaim for I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and has appeared in many film and television roles across a career spanning nearly five decades. Kathleen Hanna Musician · Born 1968 · United States Kathleen Hanna is best known as the lead singer of Bikini Kill and a pioneering voice in the feminist punk riot grrrl movement. She is also a punk zine writer and fronts the electropunk band Le Tigre, known for songs like "Rebel Girl," "Deceptacon," and "TKO."
Kathleen Robertson Actor · Born 1973 · Canada Kathleen Robertson is a Canadian actress best known for Beverly Hills, 90210 and the political drama Boss. She has appeared in a number of films and played Kitty O'Neill on Boss from 2011 to 2012. Kathleen Freeman Actor · Born 1919 · United States Kathleen Freeman was an American actress best known for her hilarious character roles in comedies and for playing sharp-tongued maids, teachers, nurses, and busybody neighbors. Over a career of more than 50 years, she appeared in films like Singin' in the Rain, The Blues Brothers, and The Naked Gun, almost always bringing a memorable comic edge. Kathleen Battle Musician · Born 1948 · United States Kathleen Battle is an American operatic soprano best known for her distinctive voice, vocal range, and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, she first gained wide attention in the early and mid-1970s through concert performances with major orchestras and became especially admired for her interpretations of Mozart and Handel.

Celebrity babies named Kathleen

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Kathleen Cavendish Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. film producer ★★★★★
Kathleen Dennehy Brian Dennehy film director ★★★★★

Kathleen – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2014 #1 — 434
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
NA 0 #32 2 2,537
HN Girls 0 #38 1 884
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
MT 0 #41 3 1,767
MO 0 #50 3 2,706
PR 0 #54 2 1,497
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
PH 0 #63 34 5,607
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
CN 0 #83 4 3,857
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
QA 0 #98 9 7,011
ID Girls 0 #99 4 3,319
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
KW 0 #116 6 5,216
MT Girls 0 #116 36 3,773
OM 0 #120 2 6,215
EC 0 #121 1 2,502
CY Girls 0 #123 3 3,755
IQ 0 #132 2 3,533
MU 0 #132 6 3,613
GR 0 #133 3 3,911
Switzerland Girls 2024 #134 2 1,786
PA 0 #136 3 3,797
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
BW Girls 0 #150 2 4,216
CR 0 #157 9 5,526
AE 0 #164 14 10,220
PR Girls 0 #164 4 3,171
Germany Girls 0 #169 2,151 4,949
LU Girls 0 #174 12 4,850
Sweden Girls 2013 #175 2 1,514
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
CZ 0 #183 4 3,154
PH Girls 0 #187 229 13,098
RU 0 #192 3 3,641
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
Belgium Girls 2000 #194 28 423
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
JM Girls 0 #207 53 7,507
NA Girls 0 #209 16 7,146
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
AL Girls 0 #226 2 4,141
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
JP Girls 0 #233 13 6,592
MO Girls 0 #235 17 7,056
SG 0 #239 31 11,010
GR Girls 0 #244 6 6,293
PT 0 #246 5 4,161
EC Girls 0 #256 3 3,650
TW Girls 0 #265 12 8,139
Germany 0 #266 180 2,542
QA Girls 0 #267 50 15,378
NG 0 #270 3 5,926
Canada Girls 2024 #273 13 2,795
SA 0 #280 16 10,560
IL 0 #281 2 6,291
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
MU Girls 0 #293 59 8,539
DK Girls 0 #294 23 7,429
MY 0 #311 20 12,352
HK 0 #313 36 8,483
PE 0 #321 9 6,350
BR 0 #327 19 5,969
CN Girls 0 #328 22 8,829
KZ Girls 0 #330 3 5,862
GH Girls 0 #333 5 6,973
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
CZ Girls 0 #350 2 5,378
ZA 0 #359 89 14,421
PL Girls 0 #362 3 5,096
PA Girls 0 #363 122 9,861
OM Girls 0 #367 30 15,987
France Girls 2021 #368 38 3,185
NL 0 #371 21 2,481
SG Girls 0 #373 221 18,916
Austria Girls 0 #395 26 1,885
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
CL 0 #399 13 6,867
BD Girls 0 #405 2 8,413
PH Boys 0 #405 4 11,440
BO 0 #406 3 6,868
EG 0 #411 2 6,387
CR Girls 0 #428 105 11,342
PT Girls 0 #429 23 7,952
Spain 0 #441 12 2,326
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
CO 0 #458 23 7,768
KW Girls 0 #464 52 19,177
HK Girls 0 #465 151 16,104
AE Girls 0 #466 88 20,968
RU Girls 0 #476 23 11,913
GT Girls 0 #491 15 7,500
PS Girls 0 #513 11 10,981
RU Boys 0 #523 4 12,621
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
UY Girls 0 #528 9 6,731
CM Girls 0 #530 11 11,671
BH 0 #541 13 17,937
IR Girls 0 #542 4 8,334
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
ZA Girls 0 #564 776 25,928
BO Girls 0 #595 17 9,488
IL Girls 0 #605 13 11,648
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
BR Girls 0 #661 293 12,708
IT 0 #684 31 4,183
LB 0 #688 3 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
United States Girls 2024 #698 220 8,487
Finland Girls 2026 #708 31 3,895
NG Girls 0 #731 56 15,093
SG Boys 0 #738 2 17,960
NL Girls 0 #743 214 5,933
MY Girls 0 #758 240 24,821
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
CL Girls 0 #794 58 14,098
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
SA Girls 0 #819 117 25,931
PE Girls 0 #825 119 14,861
TN 0 #864 2 13,765
Spain Girls 0 #904 80 5,561
CO Girls 0 #906 173 16,140
EG Boys 0 #924 2 15,035
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
NG Boys 0 #996 6 16,906
EG Girls 0 #1,004 6 14,742
MX Girls 0 #1,154 30 17,781
TR 0 #1,194 18 19,440
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
IT Girls 0 #1,231 216 9,415
ZA Boys 0 #1,264 9 25,619
SA Boys 0 #1,687 5 28,008

Kathleen is popular in 79 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
United States

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People also ask about Kathleen

Kathleen is predominantly a girl's name.
Kathleen is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈkæθliːn/ (KATH-leen).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Caitlín, Cathleen, Kathlyn, Kathlene, Katleen and Katharine.
Yes, very popular — Kathleen ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Kathleen ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Kathleen's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 9 notable people named Kathleen are in our database, including Kathleen Turner (Actor), Kathleen Quinlan (Actor), Kathleen Hanna (Musician).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Kathleen for their child, including Joseph P. Kennedy Sr..