Skip to content

Kathleen

Female name · ↓ Falling

291,608
Total Births
1951
Peak Year
Rank 2023
1880
First Recorded
📋 About the Name Kathleen

Kathleen is the Irish form of Katherine, meaning 'pure.' It peaked in the 1940s-1950s in the US. Famous Kathleens include Kathleen Turner and the song 'I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.'

📊 Popularity by Decade
1880s
1890s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
1880s622 births
1890s2,173 births
1900s3,890 births
1910s8,387 births
1920s14,136 births
1930s14,727 births
1940s62,059 births
1950s90,593 births
1960s47,578 births
1970s17,703 births
1980s15,250 births
1990s9,615 births
2000s3,765 births
2010s1,030 births
2020s80 births
❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Kathleen?

Kathleen has been given to 291,608 babies in the United States since 1880. It peaked in popularity in 1951 with 11,010 births that year.

Is Kathleen a boy or girl name?

Kathleen is primarily used as a female name in the United States.

When was Kathleen most popular?

Kathleen was most popular in 1951, when 11,010 babies were given this name. The name has been declining in popularity.

How old is the name Kathleen?

Kathleen first appeared in US records in 1880 (the earliest year in the dataset).

⚡ Quick Facts
GenderFemale
Total Births291,608
Peak Year1951
Peak Count11,010
2023 RankNot in top 1000
First Recorded1880
TrendFalling