Given name & surname
Kathleen
“one who is pure; virginal”
Kathleen is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kathleen is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Kathleen is a variant of Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Kathleen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 715,336
- 1,691 boys · 713,645 girls
- Most popular year
- 1951
- 26,749 babies
- 2025
- 201
- #1,156 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −22%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 201 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,156 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 22.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 26,716 in 1951. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (20). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 547,321 as a first name in 2020; 277 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kathleen’s family of names
In Filipino usage, Kathleen has a diminutive in Kathy. Kathleen has a related form in Katherine. Kathleen has an alternative spelling in Cathleen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kathleen
- Kathleen TurnerAmerican actress (born 1954)
- Katie LedeckyAmerican Olympic swimmerborn 1997
- Kate CapshawAmerican actress who converted to Judaismborn 1953
- Kathleen KennedyAmerican film producer (born 1953)
- Kathleen LonsdaleIrish crystallographer (1903-1971)
- Kathleen FerrierEnglish contralto singer (1912–1953)
- Kathy GriffinAmerican actress and comedianborn 1960
- Kathleen QuinlanAmerican actressborn 1954
- Kathleen SebeliusUnited States Secretary of Health and Human Servicesborn 1948
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kathleen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kay
“filled with happiness; rejoicing”
17% boys · 83% girls
Brenda
“a princess; wielding a sword” · “born to royalty; a prince”
>99% girls
Karen
“one who is pure; virginal” · “one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Ellen
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Boudicca
“a victorious queen”
13% boys · 87% girls
Cathryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carlotta
“free man” · “a small, strong woman”
>99% girls