Kathleen - name meaning and origin

The girl's name Kathleen \k(a)-th-leen\ is pronounced kath-LEEN. It is of Irish origin. Variant of Katherine (Greek) "pure". First used outside of Ireland in the 1840s. Actress Kathleen Turner.

Kathleen has 26 variant forms: Cathaleen, Cathaline, Cathleen, Kaitlin, Kaitlinn, Katha, Kathaleen, Kathaleya, Kathaleyna, Kathaline, Kathelina, Katheline, Kathleena, Kathlena, Kathlene, Kathleyn, Kathlin, Kathline, Kathlyn, Kathylyne, Kathlynn, Kathyline, Katleen, Katlin, Katline and Katlyne.

For more information, see also the related name Catherine.

Baby names that sound like Kathleen are Kathyleen, Kathileen and Kataleen.

Kathleen is a very popular female first name and an uncommon surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Kathleen. Compare Kathleen with related baby names.