Kathleen vs Ilene

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 #5,678 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"bright, shining light"

Origin: Greek Helen/Irene influence

American Irish English

✓ All Clear

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Ilene Rank #5,678

Kathleen is more popular, ranked #1110 vs #5678 for Ilene.

Is Kathleen or Ilene more popular?

Kathleen is more popular, ranked #1110 compared to Ilene at #5678 in the United States.

What do Kathleen and Ilene mean?

Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin). Ilene means "bright, shining light" (Greek Helen/Irene influence origin).

Are Kathleen and Ilene boy or girl names?

Kathleen is primarily a girl name. Ilene is primarily a girl name.