Aileen vs Kathleen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Aileen

Girl #718 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"bright, shining light"

Origin: Irish/Greek Helene

Irish Scottish English American

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Aileen' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Girl #1,110 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"pure, virginal"

Origin: Greek katharos via Irish

Irish American British Australian

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Kathleen' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Aileen Rank #718

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Aileen is more popular, ranked #718 vs #1110 for Kathleen.

Is Aileen or Kathleen more popular?

Aileen is more popular, ranked #718 compared to Kathleen at #1110 in the United States.

What do Aileen and Kathleen mean?

Aileen means "bright, shining light" (Irish/Greek Helene origin). Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin).

Are Aileen and Kathleen boy or girl names?

Aileen is primarily a girl name. Kathleen is primarily a girl name.