Kathleen

kath-LEEN; kat-LEEN
Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin
"pure"

Kathleen Origin and Meaning

The name Kathleen is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

Kathleen is the early Irish import version that came between Katherine and Kaitlin, and which hasn't been used in so long it's almost beginning to sound fresh again. It was a surprise pick by one of the hip Dixie Chicks, Martie Maguire. Kathleen was a Top 10 name from 1948 to 1951, and it is the subject of several old sentimental songs, such as "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen."

From the eighteenth century, Kathleen Ni Houlihan appears in Irish songs as a symbol of Ireland, representing its struggle for independence.

Kathy Griffin and Kate Walsh were born Kathleen, and it's J.K. Rowling's adopted middle name, after her paternal grandmother. JFK's sister Kathleen was known as Kick.

# 984 in the US

Kathleen Rank in US Top 1000

# 787 on Nameberry

Kathleen Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Kathleen Popularity

Famous People Named Kathleen

  • Kathleen Sebelius
    U.S. health secretary and former governor of Kansas
  • Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
    American politician, former governor of Louisiana
  • Kathleen Hanna
    American musician and activist
  • Kathleen O'Day Wynne
    Canadian politician, premier of Ontario
  • (Mary) Kathleen Turner
    American actress
  • Kathleen "Kathy" Ireland
    American model/actress
  • Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates
    American actress
  • Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin
    American actress/comedian
  • Kathleen Erin "Kate" Walsh
    American actress
  • Kathleen Winsor
    American author
  • Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
    American politician; daughter of politician Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel
  • Kathleen Agnes "Kick" Kennedy Cavendish
    sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
  • Kathleen Kenyon
    British archaeologist
  • Kathleen Noone
    American actress
  • Kathleen Deanna Battle
    American operatic soprano
  • Kathleen "Kitty" McKane Godfree
    English tennis player
  • Kathleen Denise Quinlan
    American actress
  • Kathleen Barr
    Canadian voice actress
  • Kathleen York
    American actress & songwriter
  • Kathleen
    Archduchess of Austria
  • Kathleen Munroe
    Canadian actress
  • Kathleen Boyle
    Scottish musician of group Cherish The Ladies
  • Kathleen Fuentes
    YouTuber
  • Kathleen Genevieve "Katie" Ledecky
    American swimmer
  • Kathleen DeLeon Jones
    Filipino,Australian singer and children's performer, former member of Australian children's group Hi,5
  • Kathleen Rose Perkins
    American actress
  • Kathleen Biden
    estranged wife of Hunter Biden, son of former US VP Joe Biden
  • Kathleen Margaret Edwards
    Canadian singer,songwriter
  • (Erica) Kathleen "Kathy" Horvath
    American tennis player
  • Joanne Kathleen "J.K." Rowling
    British novelist
  • Kathleen Rose Park
    daughter of Michael Park
  • Kathleen "Katie" Camille Naughton
    American soccer player
  • Kathleen Emilie Maguire (b. 2004)
    daughter of Gareth Maguire
  • Aquinnah Kathleen Fox
    daughter of Machael J. Fox
  • Gabrielle Kathleen McCarthy (b. 2008)
    daughter of Mike McCarthy
  • Paulina Kathleen Myers (b. 2015)
    daughter of Mike Myers
  • Ava Rose Kathleen McBride (b. 2005)
    daughter of Martina McBride

Kathleen in Pop Culture

  • Kathleen Kelly
    Meg Ryan's character in "You've Got Mail"
  • Kathleen "Kathy" Duquesne
    character in DC Universe
  • Kathleen
    character in "Fall on Your Knees" (Anne,Marie MacDonald)
  • Kathleen
    Elliot Stabler's daughter on "Law and Order: SVU"
  • Kathleen "Kat" Harvey
    from the movie "Casper the Friendly Ghost"
  • Kathleen
    one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in the Barbie version
  • Kathleen Ni Houlihan
    personification of Ireland
  • Kathleen Walsh
    character on "Medium"
  • Kathleen Gregory
    character in the "St Clare" book series by Enid Blyton
  • "Kathleen
    " song by Catfish and the Bottlemen
  • Kathleen
    1941 film starring Shirley Temple
  • Kathleen
    character on TV's Call the midwife, Mary's baby daughter
  • Kathleen Mead
    character in the Degrassi franchise