Cathleen
Cathleen is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Cathleen is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Caitlín, which derives from the Anglo-Norman Katherine. It carries the traditional meaning of pure. Peak usage in the United States occurred in the mid-20th century, and it is now an uncommon classic.
Popularity in the United States
29,923 babies in the United States have been named Cathleen since 1880. It ranks #832 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2037.
States where it is most popular
- NY (16.4 %)
- CA (15 %)
- IL (8.5 %)
- PA (6.7 %)
- OH (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 16 |
| 1900-1910 | 124 |
| 1910-1920 | 345 |
| 1920-1930 | 641 |
| 1930-1940 | 599 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,541 |
| 1950-1960 | 9,464 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,289 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,461 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,760 |
| 1990-2000 | 956 |
| 2000-2010 | 461 |
| 2010-2019 | 202 |
| 2020-2029 | 64 |
Famous people named Cathleen
- Cathleen Nesbitt: Actress
- Cathleen Synge Morawetz: Mathematician
Nicknames
Cathy, Cath, Catie, Leena
Fun facts
- The spelling Cathleen was popularized in 19th and early 20th century English-language Irish literature, such as W.B. Yeats' play Cathleen ni Houlihan.
- Cathleen developed as a phonetic English spelling of the Irish Gaelic Caitlín.