Kathleen vs Aileen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Kathleen

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'"}

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'"}

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Aileen Rank #718

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

Is Kathleen or Aileen more popular?

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

What do Kathleen and Aileen mean?

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

Are Kathleen and Aileen boy or girl names?

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