Entry № 1255 · Irish, Greek origin

Kathleen Kathleen — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ kath-LEEN /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Irish, Greek
Meaning
"Pure (Kathleen Turner; Kathleen Kennedy; Kathleen Battle)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 555
First recorded
Medieval (Irish)

A name that means "pure (kathleen turner; kathleen kennedy; kathleen battle)".

Kathleen is the anglicized Irish *Caitlín* — the Irish form of Catherine, from the Greek katharos (pure). **A top-15 US baby name from 1948 to 1957**. **Kathleen Turner (born 1954)** — American actress; *Body Heat* (1981), *Romancing the Stone* (1984), *Prizzi's Honor* (1985) Oscar nomination, *Who Framed Roger Rabbit* (1988, voice of Jessica Rabbit). **Kathleen Kennedy (born 1953)** — American film producer; **Lucasfilm president since 2012 overseeing the Star Wars sequel trilogy; producer of *E.T.*, *Schindler's List*, *Lincoln*, and the *Jurassic Park* franchise** — total box-office over $11 billion. **Kathleen Battle (born 1948)** — American Grammy-winning coloratura soprano. **Kathleen Wynne** — first openly gay premier of Ontario (2013-2018).

Subject of countless industry profiles.

Pure. Kathleen Kennedy runs Lucasfilm and Star Wars; Kathleen Turner's Body Heat.

The name in its native script.

Caitlín
Transliteration
Caitlín
Pronunciation
/ kæθˈliːn /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Kathleen stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 555 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 11 in 1948
Babies named Kathleen · last year
550 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · #11 NOW · #555

Kathleens before her.

Real people
Kathleen Turner
American actress.
born 1954
Kathleen Kennedy
Lucasfilm president.
born 1953
Kathleen Battle
American Grammy soprano.
born 1948
In fiction
Jessica Rabbit
Kathleen Turner voiced Jessica Rabbit.
1988

Names connected to Kathleen.

The number behind Kathleen.

2

The Diplomat

Kathleen reduces to two — the number of Irish Catherine.

Why families chose this name.

"Irish Catherine. Eight letters. Kathleen."
Aoife · Mother of one · Dublin