Eileen vs Kathleen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Eileen

Girl #592 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"bright, shining one"

Origin: Greek via Irish (Eibhlín)

Irish Scottish English American

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Eileen' 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'"}

Eileen Rank #592

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Eileen is more popular, ranked #592 vs #1110 for Kathleen.

Is Eileen or Kathleen more popular?

Eileen is more popular, ranked #592 compared to Kathleen at #1110 in the United States.

What do Eileen and Kathleen mean?

Eileen means "bright, shining one" (Greek via Irish (Eibhlín) origin). Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin).

Are Eileen and Kathleen boy or girl names?

Eileen is primarily a girl name. Kathleen is primarily a girl name.