Name meaning
Kathleen
may mean “pure”
- Origin
- Greek, via Irish
- Gender
- Mostly feminine
- Used in
- Irish, English, American
- Spellings
- Kathleen · Caitlín · Kathlyn · Katherine
- Say it
- KATH-leen
- Letters
- 8
Likely meaning, sources differ
Save on PinterestKathleen giftsThe story of Kathleen
Kathleen is the English form of the Irish Caitlín, from Katherine, traditionally linked to the Greek katharos, pure. Songs like I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen made it an Irish emblem.
Roots
Anglicisation of Irish Caitlín (Katherine).
Where it is used
Caitlin and Katherine are related.
Kathleen name FAQ
What does the name Kathleen mean?
Kathleen may mean “pure”. Sources differ, so we show the most common reading. Anglicisation of Irish Caitlín (Katherine).
Where does the name Kathleen come from?
Kathleen is of Greek, via Irish origin. Today it is used in Irish, English, American families.
How do you pronounce Kathleen?
Kathleen is usually pronounced KATH-leen.
Is Kathleen a boy's or a girl's name?
Kathleen is mostly feminine.
What are other spellings of Kathleen?
Related spellings and forms include Caitlín, Kathlyn, Katherine.
Kathleen name gifts
We make Kathleen gifts on request: mugs, shirts, pillows, blankets, wall art and more, with exactly this spelling.
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Names that also mean “pure”
More Greek names
Kathleen in our collections
Names like Kathleen
Sources
Name data: Public-Census, SSA-Census, Wikidata, Wiktionary-EN. Recorded in national birth and census statistics. Meaning and background researched by our team from the sources below and written in our own words. Wikipedia and Wiktionary content is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.