Catherine vs Kathleen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Catherine

Girl #320 Most Popular 3 Syllables

English French Greek Irish Scottish American European

✓ All Clear

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'"}

Catherine Rank #320

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Catherine is more popular, ranked #320 vs #1110 for Kathleen.

Is Catherine or Kathleen more popular?

Catherine is more popular, ranked #320 compared to Kathleen at #1110 in the United States.

What do Catherine and Kathleen mean?

Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin).

Are Catherine and Kathleen boy or girl names?

Catherine is primarily a girl name. Kathleen is primarily a girl name.