Kathleen
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Kathleen
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.
Kathleen is also given to boys.
Pronounced kath-LEEN.
As of October 2026, Kathleen ranked #1156 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #9 in 1949, Nameberry popularity #497.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #674 | 422 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #823 | 341 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #841 | 340 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #871 | 314 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #884 | 306 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #944 | 280 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,005 | 253 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #987 | 262 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,096 | 228 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,021 | 248 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,109 | 220 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,156 | 201 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Kathleen for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Kathleen.
Kathleen on lists
Famous Kathleens
- Kathleen SebeliusGirl
U.S. health secretary and former governor of Kansas
- Kathleen Babineaux BlancoGirl
American politician, former governor of Louisiana
- Kathleen HannaGirl
American musician and activist
- Kathleen O'Day WynneGirl
Canadian politician, premier of Ontario
- (Mary) Kathleen TurnerGirl
American actress
- Kathleen "Kathy" IrelandGirl
American model/actress
- Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" BatesGirl
American actress
- Kathleen Mary "Kathy" GriffinGirl
American actress/comedian
- Kathleen Erin "Kate" WalshGirl
American actress
- Kathleen WinsorGirl
American author
- Kathleen Kennedy TownsendGirl
American politician; daughter of politician Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel
- Kathleen Agnes "Kick" Kennedy CavendishGirl
sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
- Kathleen KenyonGirl
British archaeologist
- Kathleen NooneGirl
American actress
- Kathleen Deanna BattleGirl
American operatic soprano
- Kathleen "Kitty" McKane GodfreeGirl
English tennis player
- Kathleen Denise QuinlanGirl
American actress
- Kathleen BarrGirl
Canadian voice actress
- Kathleen YorkGirl
American actress & songwriter
- KathleenGirl
Archduchess of Austria
- Kathleen MunroeGirl
Canadian actress
- Kathleen BoyleGirl
Scottish musician of group Cherish The Ladies
- Kathleen FuentesGirl
YouTuber
- Kathleen Genevieve "Katie" LedeckyGirl
American swimmer
- Kathleen DeLeon JonesGirl
Filipino,Australian singer and children's performer, former member of Australian children's group Hi,5
- Kathleen Rose PerkinsGirl
American actress
- Kathleen BidenGirl
estranged wife of Hunter Biden, son of former US VP Joe Biden
- Kathleen Margaret EdwardsGirl
Canadian singer,songwriter
- (Erica) Kathleen "Kathy" HorvathGirl
American tennis player
- Joanne Kathleen "J.K." RowlingGirl
British novelist
- Kathleen Rose ParkGirl
daughter of Michael Park
- Kathleen "Katie" Camille NaughtonGirl
American soccer player
- Kathleen Emilie Maguire (b. 2004)Girl
daughter of Gareth Maguire
- Aquinnah Kathleen FoxGirl
daughter of Machael J. Fox
- Gabrielle Kathleen McCarthy (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of Mike McCarthy
- Paulina Kathleen Myers (b. 2015)Girl
daughter of Mike Myers
- Ava Rose Kathleen McBride (b. 2005)Girl
daughter of Martina McBride
Kathleen in pop culture
- Kathleen KellyGirl
Meg Ryan's character in "You've Got Mail"
- Kathleen "Kathy" DuquesneGirl
character in DC Universe
- KathleenGirl
character in "Fall on Your Knees" (Anne,Marie MacDonald)
- KathleenGirl
Elliot Stabler's daughter on "Law and Order: SVU"
- Kathleen "Kat" HarveyGirl
from the movie "Casper the Friendly Ghost"
- KathleenGirl
one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in the Barbie version
- Kathleen Ni HoulihanGirl
personification of Ireland
- Kathleen WalshGirl
character on "Medium"
- Kathleen GregoryGirl
character in the "St Clare" book series by Enid Blyton
- "KathleenGirl
" song by Catfish and the Bottlemen
- KathleenGirl
1941 film starring Shirley Temple
- KathleenGirl
character on TV's Call the midwife, Mary's baby daughter
- Kathleen MeadGirl
character in the Degrassi franchise