Kathleen

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly each of the two, traditionally linked to pure
Origin: Greek — Anglicized form of Caitlín, the Irish form of Catherine

Nicknames: Kathy

Girl's name · #1156 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Kathleen belongs to an older America first — it reached #9 back in 1949 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1156. About 714,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Kathleen is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 24 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Kathleen ranks in other countries and regions.

#334 in N. Ireland (2025) · #352 in Ireland (2025) · #558 in Ecuador (2025) · #632 in Scotland (2025) · #997 in England & Wales (2025) · #2,004 in Italy (2024) · #2,191 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,282 in Canada (2025) · #2,770 in Austria (2025) · #5,101 in France (2025) · #1,198 in Belgium (2019) · #367 in New Zealand (2013) and 5 more.

Famous Kathleens

Kathleen Turner — American actress (born 1954)
Kathleen Kennedy — American film producer (born 1953)
Kathleen Lonsdale — Irish crystallographer (1903–1971)
Kathleen Ferrier — English singer (1912–1953)
Kathleen Quinlan — American actress (born 1954)
Kathleen Robertson — Canadian actress (born 1973)
Kathleen Hanna — American musician and feminist activist (born 1968)
Kathleen Sebelius — United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (born 1948)
Kathleen Rubins — American microbiologist and NASA astronaut (born 1978)
Kathleen Antonelli — Irish–American computer programmer (1921–2006)

In stories & tradition

Kathleen Slater — EastEnders (TV series)
Kathleen Mallory — Mallory's Oracle (novel)
Kathleen McQueen — Fictional character from Hollyoaks

What Kathleens become

Among 1,414 notable people named Kathleen:

Scientists & scholars appear 1.49× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kathleen Kenyon, British archaeologist (1906–1978).

Similar names: Nancy · Cattleya · Sandra · Karen · Cynthia · Kathryn

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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