Kathleen vs Catherine

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 #320 Most Popular 3 Syllables

English French Greek Irish Scottish American European

✓ All Clear

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Catherine Rank #320

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

Is Kathleen or Catherine more popular?

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

What do Kathleen and Catherine mean?

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

Are Kathleen and Catherine boy or girl names?

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