NamePetalNamePetal

Cathleen

Cathleen is a girl's name of Irish and Celtic origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 11 girls in the United States.

Cathleen at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Irish & Celtic
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Also spelled
Kathleen

About the name Cathleen

Cathleen belongs to the Irish & Celtic tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess. It travels in a few spellings: Kathleen.

In the United States, Cathleen first appears in Social Security records in 1896. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #251 in 1956, and in 2024 11 babies received the name — 29,912 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Cathleen in US records

First recorded (US)
1896
Best US rank
#251 in 1956
Peak year
1958
Babies named Cathleen in 2024
11
Total since 1880
29,912

Spellings & short forms

Kathleen

Similar names

More names from the Irish & Celtic shelf:

JenniferIrish and CelticBrendaIrish and CelticCarolynIrish and CelticMeganIrish and CelticBrittanyIrish and CelticAnnieIrish and CelticBonnieIrish and CelticErinIrish and Celtic

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Cathleen mean?

The meaning of Cathleen is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Irish and Celtic origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Cathleen a boy or girl name?

Cathleen is a girl name. In 2024, 11 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Cathleen?

Cathleen comes from the Irish & Celtic tradition. It is also spelled Kathleen.

How popular is the name Cathleen?

Cathleen first appears in US records in 1896. Its best-ever ranking was #251 in 1956, and 11 babies were given the name in 2024.

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to hello@namepetal.com — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.