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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kathaleen

Kathaleen

♀ Girl

Pronounced kath-uh-LEEN /ˌkæθ.əˈliːn/Medium

Meaning: Kathaleen is a spelling of Kathleen, the anglicized Irish Caitlin, from Catherine, traditionally linked to the Greek katharos ('pure'). The extra 'a' spells out the soft middle sound.Medium

In 30 seconds: A soft spelling of Kathleen ('pure'): Kathaleen spells the middle sound out (said 'kath-uh-LEEN'). It peaked around 1952, then faded.
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Origin MediumIrish, Greek
MeaningKathaleen is a spelling of Kathleen, the anglicized Irish Caitlin, from Catherine, traditionally linked to the Greek katharos ('pure'). The extra 'a' spells out the soft middle sound.
U.S. rank (2008)#18982 ↗ Rising
2008 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1952
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,136

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195219022008

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kathaleen respells Kathleen, the anglicized Irish Caitlin from Catherine (Greek katharos, 'pure'), adding an 'a' for the soft middle sound. It rode the strong Kathleen fashion of mid-century, peaking around 1952. As standard Kathleen prevailed, this variant faded (said 'kath-uh-LEEN').

By the 1970s the spelling had grown rare on birth records. It reads today as a period variant of a classic. Pure-rooted, gentle, and uncommon.

Did you know? Kathaleen is a spelling of Kathleen, the Irish form of Catherine ('pure'), and it peaked for American girls around 1952 during Kathleen's mid-century popularity.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Kathaleen — Variant of Kathleen; Irish Caitlin from Catherine 'pure'

Variations

KathleenCathleenKathaline

Nicknames

KathyKate

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kathaleen…

Kathleen— the standard spelling of the same name
Cathleen— a like variant spelling of Kathleen
Katharine— a like Catherine-rooted classic
Maureen— a like Irish -een feminine

Explore names like Kathaleen

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kathaleen mean?

Kathaleen means 'pure', a spelling of Kathleen, the Irish form of Catherine.

How do you pronounce Kathaleen?

It's said kath-uh-LEEN /ˌkæθ.əˈliːn/ — three syllables, stress on the last, like Kathleen.

Is Kathaleen a boy or girl name?

Kathaleen is a girl's name, a variant of Kathleen.

Is Kathaleen making a comeback?

This spelling stays rare, and Kathleen reads as a mid-century Irish classic.

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