The story behind Cathleen
A female given name from Irish, a less common spelling of Kathleen.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): K AE2 TH L IY1 N
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Cathleen ranked #9581 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Cathleen
Caolan
Borrowed from Irish Caolán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ciaran
Borrowed from Irish Ciarán.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Colleen
From the word colleen, from Irish cailín (“girl”), not used as a name in Ireland. Colleen can also be interpreted as a variant of Coleen, which was a product of marketing by…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Colman
From the Irish saints' name Colmán, diminutive of Colm, from Latin columba (“dove”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aileen
A female given name from Irish, variant of Eileen.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aislinn
Borrowed from Irish Aisling.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Cathleen
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Brian
Borrowed from Irish Brian. Doublet of Brendan. Via English Brian from Irish Brian, ultimately from Breton Brien. From English Brian, from Irish Brian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Cathleen
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bridget
English form of the Irish saints' name Brighid, Brigid. Doublet of Bride.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Brigid
From Irish Brighid, from Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length