Kathleen vs Irene

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 #638 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"peace"

Origin: Ancient Greek (eirene)

Greek English Spanish Italian

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Irene' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Irene Rank #638

Irene is more popular, ranked #638 vs #1110 for Kathleen.

Is Kathleen or Irene more popular?

Irene is more popular, ranked #638 compared to Kathleen at #1110 in the United States.

What do Kathleen and Irene mean?

Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin). Irene means "peace" (Ancient Greek (eirene) origin).

Are Kathleen and Irene boy or girl names?

Kathleen is primarily a girl name. Irene is primarily a girl name.