Kathleen

Meaning of Kathleen

Kathleen means "pure." It's an Irish form of Katherine.

Kathleen has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Kathleen

After ranking as high as #204 in 2000, Kathleen has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Kathleen

• Kathleen Turner
  American actress, film star
• Kathleen Kennedy
  Film producer, Lucasfilm president
• Kathleen Battle
  American operatic soprano
• Kathleen Sebelius
  Former U.S. Secretary
• Kathleen Hanna
  Musician, Riot Grrrl icon

More Irish names

Questions about the name Kathleen

What does the name Kathleen mean?

Kathleen means kathleen means "pure." it's an irish form of katherine, and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Kathleen a boy's or a girl's name?

Kathleen is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Kathleen?

Kathleen did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Kathleen most popular?

Kathleen peaked at #204 in 2000.