Richard vs Kathleen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Richard

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

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'"}

Richard Rank #232

Kathleen Rank #1,110

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #1110 for Kathleen.

Is Richard or Kathleen more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Kathleen at #1110 in the United States.

What do Richard and Kathleen mean?

Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin). Kathleen means "pure, virginal" (Greek katharos via Irish origin).

Are Richard and Kathleen boy or girl names?

Richard is primarily a boy name. Kathleen is primarily a girl name.