Fun Facts About the Name Kathleen
- A favorite of earlier generations: Kathleen appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 72 years. Its last run lasted 71 consecutive years, from 1920 through 1990.
- More than 715 thousand babies named Kathleen: U.S. records list 715,330 babies given the name Kathleen from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,691 boys received the name Kathleen - about 1 boy for every 422 girls.
What Does the Name Kathleen Mean?
Kathleen is the English form of the Irish name Caitlín, a diminutive in the Catherine family and a close relative of Caitrín, the Irish form of Catherine. Its customary meaning is "pure." That meaning comes from the traditional association of the Greek name Aikaterine, the ultimate root of Catherine, with Greek katharos, "pure." The original etymology of Aikaterine is uncertain, so "pure" is a traditional interpretation rather than a securely established literal translation.
Kathleen Name History & Origins
Caitlín belongs to the family of Catherine names that spread across medieval Europe through Latin and French, partly through devotion to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. English speakers rendered Caitlín as Kathleen, adapting the Irish name to English spelling and pronunciation. In Ireland and among Irish communities abroad, Kathleen has been a long-established English form of the name.
Kathleen also appears in Irish cultural works. The 19th-century song "Kathleen Mavourneen" and the symbolic figure Cathleen ni Houlihan, central to the 1902 play by W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, are literary and political uses rather than the source of the name. The spelling Kathleen is one of several English forms of Caitlín; Cathleen is another.
How Popular is the Name Kathleen?
Kathleen ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1918 through 1918, then returned in 1920 and remained through 1990.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,156 | 201 | 0.0125% |
| 2024 | #1,109 | 220 | 0.0136% |
| 2023 | #1,021 | 248 | 0.0155% |
| 2022 | #1,096 | 228 | 0.0139% |
| 2021 | #987 | 262 | 0.0160% |
| 2020 | #1,005 | 253 | 0.0157% |
| 2019 | #944 | 280 | 0.0167% |
| 2018 | #884 | 306 | 0.0180% |
| 2017 | #871 | 314 | 0.0182% |
| 2016 | #841 | 340 | 0.0192% |
| 2015 | #823 | 341 | 0.0191% |
| 2014 | #674 | 422 | 0.0236% |
| 2013 | #659 | 432 | 0.0246% |
| 2012 | #662 | 427 | 0.0243% |
| 2011 | #632 | 451 | 0.0256% |
| 2010 | #596 | 495 | 0.0279% |
| 2009 | #564 | 542 | 0.0295% |
| 2008 | #448 | 704 | 0.0372% |
| 2007 | #422 | 779 | 0.0405% |
| 2006 | #371 | 878 | 0.0462% |
| 2005 | #339 | 934 | 0.0505% |
| 2004 | #316 | 1,002 | 0.0546% |
| 2003 | #284 | 1,096 | 0.0600% |
| 2002 | #262 | 1,208 | 0.0672% |
| 2001 | #237 | 1,337 | 0.0743% |
| 2000 | #204 | 1,585 | 0.0873% |
| 1999 | #192 | 1,630 | 0.0919% |
| 1998 | #171 | 1,739 | 0.0984% |
| 1997 | #175 | 1,742 | 0.1001% |
| 1996 | #152 | 2,107 | 0.1202% |
| 1995 | #139 | 2,281 | 0.1297% |
| 1994 | #130 | 2,429 | 0.1360% |
| 1993 | #118 | 2,743 | 0.1516% |
| 1992 | #108 | 3,135 | 0.1700% |
| 1991 | #102 | 3,371 | 0.1798% |
| 1990 | #92 | 3,670 | 0.1933% |
| 1989 | #90 | 3,597 | 0.1951% |
| 1988 | #75 | 3,927 | 0.2205% |
| 1987 | #72 | 4,165 | 0.2396% |
| 1986 | #68 | 4,129 | 0.2407% |
| 1985 | #68 | 4,086 | 0.2374% |
| 1984 | #71 | 3,985 | 0.2367% |
| 1983 | #73 | 3,924 | 0.2349% |
| 1982 | #77 | 3,949 | 0.2332% |
| 1981 | #82 | 3,776 | 0.2264% |
| 1980 | #82 | 3,857 | 0.2323% |
| 1979 | #84 | 3,641 | 0.2268% |
| 1978 | #79 | 3,743 | 0.2443% |
| 1977 | #80 | 3,649 | 0.2380% |
| 1976 | #82 | 3,406 | 0.2325% |
| 1975 | #80 | 3,545 | 0.2432% |
| 1974 | #76 | 3,953 | 0.2694% |
| 1973 | #68 | 4,250 | 0.2915% |
| 1972 | #57 | 5,096 | 0.3350% |
| 1971 | #53 | 6,154 | 0.3699% |
| 1970 | #45 | 7,409 | 0.4238% |
| 1969 | #42 | 8,298 | 0.4919% |
| 1968 | #40 | 8,729 | 0.5321% |
| 1967 | #40 | 9,211 | 0.5579% |
| 1966 | #37 | 10,492 | 0.6200% |
| 1965 | #34 | 11,778 | 0.6673% |
| 1964 | #30 | 13,232 | 0.6983% |
| 1963 | #28 | 13,542 | 0.7026% |
| 1962 | #29 | 14,190 | 0.7215% |
| 1961 | #29 | 15,393 | 0.7626% |
| 1960 | #27 | 16,085 | 0.7955% |
| 1959 | #23 | 17,629 | 0.8712% |
| 1958 | #21 | 19,203 | 0.9546% |
| 1957 | #21 | 19,742 | 0.9655% |
| 1956 | #17 | 21,377 | 1.0647% |
| 1955 | #17 | 22,016 | 1.1260% |
| 1954 | #14 | 22,455 | 1.1563% |
| 1953 | #14 | 23,731 | 1.2614% |
| 1952 | #11 | 25,767 | 1.3896% |
| 1951 | #10 | 26,716 | 1.4835% |
| 1950 | #10 | 25,705 | 1.5005% |
| 1949 | #9 | 26,357 | 1.5406% |
| 1948 | #10 | 23,257 | 1.3697% |
| 1947 | #11 | 22,095 | 1.2464% |
| 1946 | #16 | 18,760 | 1.1939% |
| 1945 | #19 | 13,802 | 1.0559% |
| 1944 | #20 | 13,004 | 0.9798% |
| 1943 | #22 | 12,153 | 0.8710% |
| 1942 | #24 | 10,696 | 0.7919% |
| 1941 | #36 | 7,160 | 0.5927% |
| 1940 | #40 | 5,697 | 0.4982% |
| 1939 | #48 | 4,656 | 0.4246% |
| 1938 | #58 | 4,228 | 0.3832% |
| 1937 | #61 | 3,743 | 0.3518% |
| 1936 | #67 | 3,352 | 0.3222% |
| 1935 | #71 | 3,353 | 0.3198% |
| 1934 | #74 | 3,279 | 0.3140% |
| 1933 | #77 | 3,121 | 0.3096% |
| 1932 | #83 | 2,945 | 0.2760% |
| 1931 | #87 | 2,799 | 0.2629% |
| 1930 | #84 | 3,074 | 0.2730% |
| 1929 | #89 | 2,941 | 0.2634% |
| 1928 | #82 | 3,151 | 0.2732% |
| 1927 | #83 | 3,265 | 0.2738% |
| 1926 | #83 | 3,277 | 0.2764% |
| 1925 | #81 | 3,503 | 0.2877% |
| 1924 | #76 | 3,663 | 0.2933% |
| 1923 | #70 | 3,754 | 0.3112% |
| 1922 | #80 | 3,466 | 0.2886% |
| 1921 | #83 | 3,419 | 0.2773% |
| 1920 | #91 | 3,158 | 0.2635% |
| 1919 | #101 | 2,587 | 0.2289% |
| 1918 | #99 | 2,629 | 0.2271% |
| 1917 | #101 | 2,358 | 0.2181% |
| 1916 | #104 | 2,154 | 0.2063% |
| 1915 | #104 | 1,940 | 0.1972% |
| 1914 | #110 | 1,475 | 0.1937% |
| 1913 | #110 | 1,179 | 0.1888% |
| 1912 | #118 | 985 | 0.1765% |
| 1911 | #126 | 663 | 0.1585% |
| 1910 | #131 | 622 | 0.1569% |
| 1909 | #136 | 527 | 0.1518% |
| 1908 | #132 | 527 | 0.1576% |
| 1907 | #149 | 440 | 0.1381% |
| 1906 | #143 | 412 | 0.1395% |
| 1905 | #152 | 386 | 0.1324% |
| 1904 | #147 | 362 | 0.1315% |
| 1903 | #149 | 352 | 0.1344% |
| 1902 | #159 | 325 | 0.1231% |
| 1901 | #169 | 272 | 0.1136% |
| 1900 | #171 | 321 | 0.1071% |
| 1899 | #184 | 230 | 0.0987% |
| 1898 | #163 | 306 | 0.1183% |
| 1897 | #173 | 250 | 0.1067% |
| 1896 | #169 | 259 | 0.1089% |
| 1895 | #196 | 192 | 0.0822% |
| 1894 | #205 | 168 | 0.0754% |
| 1893 | #196 | 170 | 0.0798% |
| 1892 | #208 | 149 | 0.0702% |
| 1891 | #228 | 113 | 0.0609% |
| 1890 | #239 | 105 | 0.0552% |
| 1889 | #252 | 87 | 0.0488% |
| 1888 | #286 | 67 | 0.0375% |
| 1887 | #302 | 50 | 0.0343% |
| 1886 | #321 | 43 | 0.0298% |
| 1885 | #333 | 38 | 0.0286% |
| 1884 | #387 | 27 | 0.0209% |
| 1883 | #418 | 21 | 0.0187% |
| 1882 | #384 | 22 | 0.0204% |
| 1881 | #477 | 13 | 0.0141% |
| 1880 | #358 | 21 | 0.0231% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | #8,890 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #4,085 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #2,440 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #4,313 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #2,680 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #3,066 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #2,389 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #2,129 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #2,456 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #2,557 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #3,128 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #3,990 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #4,635 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #2,611 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #2,730 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,762 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #2,403 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #1,957 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1973 | #2,176 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #1,945 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #2,326 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #1,876 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #1,707 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1968 | #1,351 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1967 | #1,378 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1966 | #1,330 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1965 | #1,348 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1964 | #1,499 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1963 | #1,467 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1962 | #1,444 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #1,559 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1960 | #1,415 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1959 | #1,126 | 48 | 0.0022% |
| 1958 | #1,084 | 50 | 0.0024% |
| 1957 | #1,308 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #1,209 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1955 | #1,328 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,178 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 1953 | #1,270 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1952 | #1,205 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1951 | #1,286 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1950 | #1,134 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1949 | #930 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1948 | #1,169 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1947 | #1,045 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 1946 | #1,226 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1945 | #1,112 | 35 | 0.0026% |
| 1944 | #1,300 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,201 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1942 | #1,155 | 36 | 0.0026% |
| 1941 | #1,222 | 30 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,323 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1939 | #1,608 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,589 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #1,874 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1936 | #2,127 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #1,988 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1934 | #1,444 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1933 | #1,875 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1932 | #2,151 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1931 | #2,160 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #1,930 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1929 | #1,705 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1928 | #2,108 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,030 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #4,524 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #2,676 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #3,676 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #2,857 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #4,669 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,058 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #3,630 | 6 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Kathleen
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Kathleen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Kathleen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kathleen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.