Kathleen
How to say it: kath-LEEN · /kæθˈlin/
Irish form of Katherine, from Greek 'Aikaterine'. Meaning debated; possibly 'pure' from Greek 'katharos'.
Kathleen was the 993rd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 201 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 40% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,149 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #993 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 201 |
| Share of births | 1 in 16,494 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −40% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,149 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Hitting its stride in the 1950s, Kathleen has grown scarcer since. Far from that peak now, more slipping is on the horizon.
What goes with it
Airy and breathy, Kathleen feels familiar and steady. Margaret shares its style.
Parents who love Kathleen also love
Nicknames
- Kathy
- Kate
- Kath
- Kay
- Kat
Honouring a Kathleen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kathleen is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Greek, Irish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Ireland: #370.
Famous people named Kathleen
- Kathleen Turner (born 1954)American actress
- Kathleen Kennedy (born 1953)American film producer
- Kathleen Quinlan (born 1954)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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