Girl
Irish / Greek
2 syllables
Kathleen
kath-LEEN
/kæθˈliːn/
"Pure" — an Irish gem with rolling lilt and deep Celtic soul
Kathleen is the Anglicised form of the Irish Caitlín, which is itself an Irish form of Katherine derived from the Greek Aikaterine meaning pure. It has been used in Ireland for centuries and spread to the broader English-speaking world through Irish emigration. The name has a distinctive melodic quality and strong Irish-American identity, having been extremely popular in the mid-20th century among families of Irish descent.
Quick Facts
Letters8
SyllablesKath · leen
GenderGirl
OriginIrish / Greek
Root WordCaitlín / Aikaterine
MeaningPure
PopularityEstablished
Peak Year1958
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayNovember 25
Nicknames
KathyKatKateKayKitty
About the Name Kathleen
Kathleen means pure, as the Anglicised form of the Irish Caitlín, itself from the Greek Aikaterine. It is the Irish cousin of Katherine.
Yes. Kathleen is the Anglicised spelling of the Irish Caitlín and is deeply associated with Irish identity and the Irish-American community.
Both mean pure and share the same Greek root. Kathleen came via the Irish form Caitlín, while Katherine came directly into English from Latin. Kathleen has a distinctly Irish flavour.
Kathy is the classic nickname from the mid-century era. Kat, Kate, Kay, and Kitty are fresher alternatives.
Kathleen was most popular in the US in the 1950s, particularly in families of Irish Catholic heritage. It peaked around 1958.
Kathleen Ann, Kathleen Rose, and Kathleen Marie are traditional Irish-American combinations. Kathleen Grace is also lovely and timeless.
Personality of Kathleen
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Kathleen
Creativity
68%
Elegance
72%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
76%
Strength
78%
Warmth
82%
Famous People Named Kathleen
K
Kathleen Turner
American actress known for Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit
K
Kathleen Kennedy
American film producer at Lucasfilm, one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood
K
Kathleen Hanna
American feminist punk musician and founder of the riot grrrl movement
Middle Names for Kathleen
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Kathleen
Kathleen Ann
Kathleen Marie
Kathleen Rose
Kathleen Elizabeth
Kathleen Grace
Kathleen Anne
Kathleen Patricia
Kathleen Eileen
Kathleen Bridget
Kathleen Frances
Names Similar to Kathleen
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Kathleen
1200s
Caitlín becomes established in Ireland as the local form of Katherine
1840s
Irish famine emigration brings Kathleen to America in large numbers
1958
Kathleen peaks in US popularity, a top-20 name among Irish-American families
1980s
Kathleen begins declining as Caitlin and Katelyn rise in its place
Numerology & Symbolism of Kathleen
4
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
2
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Pisces
7
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Emerald Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🌸
Lucky Flower
Shamrock
Kathleen Around the World
How Kathleen is written in different languages and scripts
كاثلين
Arabic
キャスリーン
Japanese
Кэтлин
Russian
캐슬린
Korean
凯瑟琳
Chinese
Κάθλιν
Greek
कैथलीन
Hindi
קת'לין
Hebrew
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