Origin, Meaning, And History Of Kathleen
Kathleen is a female given name derived from the Irish name Caitlín, which is the Irish form of Katherine. Katherine comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, which means ‘pure’ or ‘clear.’ The etymology is debated. Aikatrine could be derived from an ancient Greek name, ‘Hekaterine,’ which is derived from ‘The Greek God Hekateros,’ which means ‘each of the two’; or it could be derived from the name of the goddess Hecate, meaning ‘far off.’
It may also be related to the Greek word ‘Aikia,’ which means ‘torture’; or it could be derived from a Coptic name which means ‘my consecration of your name.’
The Latin spelling of Katerina was changed to Katharina to reflect its association with the Greek word ‘Katharos,’ which means ‘pure’ in the early Christian era. The English name Kathleen is an anglicized variant of Celtic Caitlin, which gained popularity in Ireland. Catherine was named after a 4th-century saint, Saint of Alexandria, who was martyred in Egypt and became connected with virtues of courage and purity, appealing to the Celts.
It has been used in various spellings in England since the 12th century, with Katherine and Catherine becoming popular in the later Middle Ages.
The common variations of the name Kathleen include Caitlín, Caitlin, Cathleen(Irish), Kathlyn(English), Katerina(Albanian), Aikaterine(Ancient Greek), Kateřina, Karin, Katka(Czech), Trine, Cathrine, Catrine, Katarina, Kathrine, Katharina, Caja, Katrine, Kaja, Karen, Ina, Karin(Danish), Catherine, Carine, Karine(French), Aikaterini, Ekaterini, Katerina, Katina, Kaiti, Keti(Greek), Caterina, Rina(Italian), Katarzyna, Kasia(Polish), Catrina, Catriona, Katrina, Katriona(Scottish), Catalina, Lina(Spanish), and Catrin, Cadi(Welsh).
Kathy, Kay, Kitty, Kathie, Katie, Kath, Kasia, Kass, Katyusha, Kassie, Katy, Katty, Katya, Kit, Lena, Kitkat, Kate, and Kat are some of the possible nicknames for Kathleen.
There are several notable fictional characters with the name Kathleen. Kathleen Kelly is the lead character inYou’ve Got Mailplayed by Meg Ryan. Kathleen Mead is the character in the teen seriesDegrassi Junior High. Kathleen Topolsky is a character from the science fiction television seriesRoswell.
How To Pronounce Kathleen?
Famous People With The Name Kathleen
- Kathleen Genevieve LedeckyAmerican competitive swimmer, who won seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship gold medals
- Kathleen Doyle BatesAmerican actress, to have won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards
- Kathleen McDermottScottish actress, well-known for her roles in Morvern Callar, and Wedding Belles
- Kathleen KennedyMovie producer, and Co-founder of Amblin Entertainment
- Kathleen WinsorAmerican author, well-known for the 1944 historical novel Forever Amber
Kathleen On The Popularity Chart
The popularity and ranking of the name can be seen from the graphical representation given below.
Popularity Over Time
The popularity of this name has been steadily decreasing, as seen in the graph below.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Coinciding with the decreasing popularity, the ranking is also falling down with each passing year.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Kathleen
These names that have a ring to them that is similar to Kathleen might appeal to you if you like the way Kathleen sounds.
Popular Sibling Names For Kathleen
Names With Similar Meaning As Kathleen
If the meaning of the name Kathleen connected with you, but you’re interested in exploring other options, then have a look at this list of names with related meanings:
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Kathleen
