The story behind Kathleen
Anglicization of Caitlín, an Irish equivalent of the English Catherine.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkæθˌlin/
Popularity
Kathleen ranked #1156 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Kathleen
Keelin
Borrowed from Irish Caoilfhionn, from caol (“thin, slender”) + fionn (“light, fair”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Keenan
From Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kilian
A male given name from Irish, variant of Killian. Borrowed from Irish Cillian, originally in honor of an Irish seventh century missionary to Würzburg.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kiljan
Borrowed from Irish Cillian, a saint’s name, first used in Iceland by Halldór Kiljan Laxness (1902-1998) after his conversion to Catholicism.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Killian
An anglicized spelling of Irish Cillian.
- 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
Middle Names for Kathleen
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 Kathleen
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