Maureen vs Kathleen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Maureen

Girl #4,928 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"little Mary"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Irish Scottish English

15 High Risk

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

Maureen Rank #4,928

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Kathleen is more popular, ranked #1110 vs #4928 for Maureen.

Is Maureen or Kathleen more popular?

Kathleen is more popular, ranked #1110 compared to Maureen at #4928 in the United States.

What do Maureen and Kathleen mean?

Maureen means "little Mary" (Irish Gaelic origin). Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin).

Are Maureen and Kathleen boy or girl names?

Maureen is primarily a girl name. Kathleen is primarily a girl name.