Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Kathaleen isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1902. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kathaleen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,136
- 0 boys · 4,136 girls
- Most popular year
- 1952
- 143 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2008. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 143 in 1952. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,113 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kathaleen’s family of names
Inner ring: spellings · outer: across languages.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Kathaleen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cathleen
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kathlyn
>99% girls
Karolyn
>99% girls
Kathrine
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Karen
“one who is pure; virginal” · “one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Cathy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carlotta
“free man” · “a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Kathryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls